Soweto Kinch at 606 Club

Every now and again a young musician passes through the Club who clearly has something just a little special about them. I first remember hearing Soweto playing sax at the Club almost 20 years ago, when he was still a young student, not studying music but Modern History at Oxford University. Although a raw player his talent was very clear and it was no great surprise to me when he began his steady ascent to international fame. By his mid-twenties he had started to collect the various prestigious Nominations and Awards (Mercury Prize, UMA Award, two MOBO's...) that characterize the breadth and depth of his creativity and skill. Talking to Soweto, even then and certainly now, his razor sharp intellect and dedication to the music shine through everything and are reflected in every aspect of his varied and thoughtful musical life. A fluent and impressive be-bop alto player Soweto is equally at home performing Hip-Hop as he his straight ahead Jazz. When he did a gig here a few years back and asked, for the first time, for a vocal mic so he could rap, I have to say I raised an eyebrow. Shouldn't have worried, though, like everything he does his rapping is musical, thoughtful and full of wit and charm. But it's his ability to mix all the genres together in to one, coherent, musical package (searing be-bop one minute, Groove-laden rap the next) that really stands Soweto out from the crowd. It may look easy but it takes years of dedication, skill and real talent to put to together such a world class set. I personally believe that jazz should not stand still and that the life blood of the music is in the way that genuine, creative, jazz artists can take what is happening around them and make something for themselves out of it. Soweto is a performer who truly manages to achieve this and has been doing so at the Club for some years now....

read more

Every now and again a young musician passes through the Club who clearly has something just a little special about them. I first remember hearing Soweto playing sax at the Club almost 20 years ago, when he was still a young student, not studying music but Modern History at Oxford University. Although a raw player his talent was very clear and it was no great surprise to me when he began his steady ascent to international fame. By his mid-twenties he had started to collect the various prestigious Nominations and Awards (Mercury Prize, UMA Award, two MOBO's...) that characterize the breadth and depth of his creativity and skill. Talking to Soweto, even then and certainly now, his razor sharp intellect and dedication to the music shine through everything and are reflected in every aspect of his varied and thoughtful musical life. A fluent and impressive be-bop alto player Soweto is equally at home performing Hip-Hop as he his straight ahead Jazz. When he did a gig here a few years back and asked, for the first time, for a vocal mic so he could rap, I have to say I raised an eyebrow. Shouldn't have worried, though, like everything he does his rapping is musical, thoughtful and full of wit and charm. But it's his ability to mix all the genres together in to one, coherent, musical package (searing be-bop one minute, Groove-laden rap the next) that really stands Soweto out from the crowd. It may look easy but it takes years of dedication, skill and real talent to put to together such a world class set. I personally believe that jazz should not stand still and that the life blood of the music is in the way that genuine, creative, jazz artists can take what is happening around them and make something for themselves out of it. Soweto is a performer who truly manages to achieve this and has been doing so at the Club for some years now.

“…an amazing display of verbal and musical virtuosity from 34-year-old Kinch, who combines the streetwise argot of a lad raised in inner-city Birmingham with the learned references of a bookish man” The Telegraph; “The trio created a wonderful blend of musical brilliance, wit, showmanship and sheer energy.” - London Jazz News

show less