Tomorrow’s New Quartet is a project that was formed last year amidst the various lockdowns and restrictions that were put in place to combat the pandemic. It plays the original music of Amsterdam-based drummer/ composer Rod Oughton, who wrote all of this music during that challenging time. Oughton used composition to stay creative and optimistic during the lockdowns, and the band’s name is a reflection of that.

The band’s stellar line up consists of some of the UK’s fastest rising Jazz stars. This includes Scottish saxophonist Helena Kay, electric bass extraordinaire Flo Moore and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year Deschanel Gordon on keys. The band’s debut album “All Together, Now!” Is being released on the Ubuntu Music label in May 2022.

Rod is a British jazz drummer/composer who is currently based in Amsterdam. He has worked with the James Taylor Quartet, Hailey Tuck and Hudson Taylor, and has performed in Cuba, Dubai and Saudi Arabia as well as all over the UK and Europe. His own band, OK Aurora, released their debut album to a sold-out Pizza Express Soho audience in August 2021. The album went on to be featured by BBC Introducing and Jazz FM and received a 5 Star review from Jazz Journal.

Rod explains the genesis of his latest project: “I think the music encompasses everything I was feeling during that period, from fear and uncertainty to fleeting moments of optimism. There’s even one tune on the album dedicated to my neighbour who sadly passed away from Covid related complications in November 2020.”

Rod continues: “I named the band ‘Tomorrow’s New Quartet’ as I felt it embodied the optimism that composing this music and arranging the recording of this album gave me. This project provided a sense of purpose during that challenging period, and this album is the final product of all that work. The band’s line up comprises Helena Kay, Deschanel Gordon, Flo Moore and myself. These guys are some of my favourite musicians to play with and I felt super lucky that they agreed to get involved and continued to contribute so much to the project.”

 This concert is supported by Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund and Forsyth Pianos.

It’s an exceptional line-up and they delivered a fantastic record. These four are ones to watch.

Martin Hummel, Ubuntu

Helena Kay // saxophone 

Deschanel Gordon // piano 

Flo Moore // electric bass //

Rod Oughton // drums