Ahead of his upcoming K(no)w Them, K(no)w Us album release this summer, Cole will be playing a set full of warmth and character, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of music and heritage of great African-American composers and improvisers – formative influences on his life and music – through a contemporary Black British lens.
Hailing from Birmingham, UK, Xhosa Cole began playing tenor saxophone at a community music school run by the late, great sax player Andy Hamilton MBE. He went on to win the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year award in 2018 and started playing prestigious venues across the country.
As a recording artist, Cole has collaborated with the likes of Soweto Kinch and Reuben James, and is performing as a quintet alongside Jay Phelps on trumpet, James Owston on bass and James Bashford on drums.
“When you have the blessing to play regularly with musicians you can sometimes take for granted what it means to forge those deep emotional, personal and spiritual connections with these people. I had the pleasure of touring and recording with these great musicians in 2020 and can’t wait to be back sharing the stage with these titans for Tomorrow’s Warriors’’ first physical show at the Albany.” – Xhosa Cole