SEED Ensemble among Hyundai Mercury Prize nominees
The London-based collective are up against Nao, Slowthai, The 1975 and more
London-based jazz collective Seed Ensemble are celebrating a Mercury nomination for their album ‘Driftglass’ released last February on Jazz Re:Freshed records. The nomination comes fresh from their Jazz FM Award win where lead saxophonist and composer Cassie Kinoshi was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
She says she’s immensely proud of the project, boasting a stellar line-up of up-and-coming young jazz musicians including tuba player Theon Cross (Sons of Kemet), trumpeter Sheila-Maurice-Grey (Kokoroko) and tenor saxophonist Chelsea Carmichael. Combining jazz with inner-city London, West African and Caribbean influenced groove, SEED explores a blend of genres through both original compositions and arrangements, with political influence including a song dedicated to victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
Jazz Re:Freshed said on Facebook: "This nomination is so well deserved and we are too proud of Cassie. Cassie's music is extremely powerful and relevant. As an exceptional millennial black female composer & arranger, Cassie brings a unique voice and perspective to UK music with her larger than life socially conscious compositions."
Other nominees this year include the soul singer NAO, hip-hop star Slowthai, rapper Little Simz and rock bands The 1975 and Foals.
The ceremony will take place in London at the Eventim Apollo on September 19th.