Two of the UK’s most impressive, renowned jazz musicians, Tim Garland and Jason Rebello, perform music from their new duo album ‘Life to Life’ (Whirlwind Recordings). With Garland on tenor, soprano and sopranino saxophones and bass clarinet, and Rebello on piano, this acoustic duo is a testament to a long lasting friendship and pursuit of musical depth.

A member of the iconic US pianist Chick Corea’s band for more than two decades, Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Tim Garland has, over the last 25 years, garnered a formidable international reputation as a jazz improviser of fluency, power and grace.

“Garland – his level of genius is rare” (Chick Corea)

Similarly, pianist Jason Rebello has been at the forefront of the international music scene for more than 25 years. By the age of 24 he had three highly successful albums under his belt and worked with the likes of Wayne Shorter and Branford Marsalis. In 1998 he joined Sting’s band before moving to the band of guitar legend Jeff Beck.
“Rebello is one of the finest jazz musicians this country has produced.” (Jazz: The Modern Resurgence)

Individually they are outstanding, together they are remarkable.
“Exceptionally well-conceived and flawlessly executed” (Jazzwise)

Ayo Vincent is a Jazz pianist, composer and arranger originating from South West London. A graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and mentee of the British jazz legend Julian Joseph, Ayo regularly performs across the UK.

Together with Jas Kayser on drums (Alfa Mist, Jorja Smith) and Ezekiel Ajie on bass, Ayo debuts his new trio in the intimate setting of World Heart Beat’s new concert hall.

The Ayo Vincent Trio brings a performance rooted in Jazz tradition, drawing from a multitude of cross genre musical influences with new compositions and arrangements being played for the first time.

This exceptionally communicative group shares a joint love for all music that moves us in dance and mind. Influenced by the greats including Herbie Hancock and Ahmad Jamal, they bring a heavy swinging, New Orleans grooving beat, with captive melody and harmonies. Expect high energy twists, turns and exploration.

Cleveland Watkiss MBE is a African/Caribbean/ British born multidisciplinary creative artist,virtuoso vocal explorer, actor and composer, and voice professor at Trinity Laban Music And Dance Conservatoire.

VocalSuite: A Solo Voice Performance
Wasn’t he awesome? What it takes us six to do he does all by himself.” (Take 6)

Using a breathtaking vocal range that makes seamless links between musical cultures, three times Wire/Guardian award-winning vocalist Cleveland Watkiss blends improvisation/counterpoint harmony, electronics, breakbeat loops and basslines (all live and from his mouth) to stunning effect, creating a unique, orchestral vocal soundscape.

VocalSuite is an elusive a cappella vocal improvisation performance that uses the atmosphere of venue, mood and interactivity of audience to present a performance of the moment; seamless links between musical cultures from Africa to Europe go together to create human vocal soundscapes. VocalSuite fuses voice and technology, using real-time looping to create live compositions. No two performances are ever the same.

Using technology to record, then layer the voice, an orchestral piece is created that is composed right before the audience. Sometimes Cleveland uses the audience as contributors to the piece, and he always reflects the mood and ambience of the space. The collaborations he has made reflect the diversity of the musical styles in the pieces, ranging from classical to African rhythm, to jazz and choral.

“It’s my personal understanding that given the right kind of encouragement we can all sing! Singing is not learned, it’s a gift we’re given. Sometimes that gift may get suppressed through bad teaching or discouraging words. My job is to give you the keys to unlock the song within you.”

Cleveland was the winner of the London Jazz Awards for Best Vocalist in 2010 and was voted Wire/Guardian Jazz Awards best vocalist for three consecutive years. In 2017 at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards he received the ‘Jazz Vocalist of the Year’ award. He is also a nominee of the MOBO Awards, in Best Jazz Act category. For his services to music Watkiss was appointed an MBE in 2018 New Year Honours.

More recently in 2021, Watkiss received an Ivor Novello Award for *INNOVATION*