Heads Up

Will Cleasby Trio + Grifton Forbes-Amos Quintet

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Last Show: Tuesday 4 th April 2023

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Heads Up is proud to present two of the pioneering musicians on the London Jazz Scene – drummer Will Cleasby and trumpeter Grifton Forbes-Amos. Both highly renowned band leaders have performed for some of the most exciting musicians and bands in the UK, including, Kurt Elling, Jamie Cullum, Nubiyan Twist, Soweto Kinch, Shabaka Hutchings and Blue Lab Beats, just to name a few. Join us for an unforgettable evening full of mesmerizing melodies, dazzling solos, and creative improvisation, don’t miss this show!

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Will Cleasby Trio

Will Cleasby is a jazz drummer originally from Lincolnshire and now based in south east London having graduated in Jazz Performance at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2018, where he studied under tutors Dave Wickins and Gene Calderazzo.

Since finishing his degree Will has become an in demand and versatile musician in London, playing with both young talent and veterans of the scene. Will is part of a number of projects and bands including Damian Lewis, Kansas Smitty’s and Kavuma and the Banger Factory. In addition Will has performed with Grammy award winner, Kurt Elling and most recently recorded and performed a Christmas album with Jamie Cullum. Will has performed all over the world appearing at events such as the Rochester Jazz Festival, Festival Django Rheinhardt, Love Supreme Jazz Festival as well as renowned London venues such as Shepherds Bush Empire, The Tabernacle, Roundhouse, The Vortex, Ronnie Scott’s and the Royal Albert Hall. 

Grifton Forbes-Amos

24-year-old Grifton Forbes-Amos is a London based trumpeter/composer who has been playing music from the young age of 10 working to identify his sound and what music means to him. He strives to seek his sound from all the resources he's come across creating something new but still paying homage to Jazz music he loves. 


Since 2017 he has been making himself more known on the jazz scene, constantly trying to develop his sound through the genres he regularly performs in like: Jazz, Latin music, Fusion, Afrobeat and many more. He is heavily influenced through bands/artist like Roy Hargrove, Marquis Hill, Christian Scott, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan etc. who all aimed to find their unique sound within the music they performed/composed. 

After finishing his studies in 2021 Grifton continued to be a part of bands such as: TC and the Groove family, Neue Grafik Ensemble and many more. As well has performing with bands/projects like Nubiyan Twist, Soweto Kinch, Shabaka Hutchings and Blue Lab Beats. 

For this event at PizzaExpress Jazz Club he will be playing his original compositions with his quintet, featuring Grifton Forbes-Amos - trumpet/band leader, James Akers - tenor saxophone, Jay Verma - piano, Jedidiah Bailey-Smith - double bass, Harry Ling - drums.

Band Line Up

Will Cleasby Trio

Will Cleasby (drums)
Will Barry (piano)
Will Sach (bass)

Grifton Forbes-Amos

Grifton Forbes-Amos (trumpet/band leader)
James Akers (tenor saxophone)
Jay Verma (piano)
Jedidiah Bailey-Smith (double bass)
Harry Ling (drums)