Born and raised in NZ to a Congolese master percussionist on a diet of hip hop, jazz and dance music, drummer/composer Myele Manzanza is fast establishing himself as significant musical force on London’s dynamic scene of new wave jazz artists. Making an early name on the global stage having been selected from over 20,000 applicants to participate in the Red Bull Music Academy in London in 2010, he has multiple solo album releases on esteemed international labels Sound Signature, First Word and BBE and is recognized as one of NZ's top jazz musicians, having been nominated for the 2017 NZ Jazz Album of the Year for his sophomore album OnePointOne and 2020 APRA Best Jazz Composition for his work Mortality from the A Love Requited LP.
Myele’s latest project has been his series of ‘Crisis & Opportunity’ releases on London-based label DeepMatter Records. The first of a 5-part series of works that have been composed during the 2020 Covid 19 lockdown, 'Crisis & Opportunity’ was born out of the necessity for Myele to direct his creative energy in a productive direction and maintain his growth as an artist. The music is a reflection of the time we currently live in as a global society, drawing from the global health crisis brought by Covid 19, the parallel economic crisis as a consequence of the necessary lockdowns, and the broader racial crisis brought to the forefront as a result of the death of George Floyd.
Whilst this has been a personally difficult time for him as an artist, it’s also created opportunities to pause, reflect, go back to the drawing board and set himself in a new creative direction. Weaving his unique blend of forward thinking genre bending jazz, broken beat, electronica and world music, Manzanza’s writing and playing drives the band forward through compositions inspired by the city of London that he now calls home.
This concert is supported by Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund and Forsyth Pianos.
“A musician who clearly sees the bigger picture” Modern Drummer Magazine
“Jazz King” Complex, UK
“Undeniable Electricity” Okayplayer, USA
Zola Marcelle // Vocals
Lewis Moody // Keys
Matt Gedrych // Bass
Myele Manzanza // Drums