Tomorrow's Warriors
Founded1991 (1991)
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Key people
Janine Irons
Gary Crosby
Tomorrow's Warriors Trust[1]
Award(s)2017 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Education;
2021 Impact Award from Jazz FM
Websitetomorrowswarriors.org

Tomorrow's Warriors (TW) is a jazz music education and artist development organisation[2] that was co-founded in 1991 by Janine Irons and Gary Crosby,[3] committed to championing diversity, inclusion and equality across the arts through jazz, with a special focus on "Black musicians, female musicians and those whose financial or other circumstances might lock them out of opportunities to pursue a career in the music industry".[4] Crosby drew inspiration from having been a member of the Jazz Warriors, a London-based group of musicians that in the 1980s showcased many young Black British musicians who went on to achieve international success (among them Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Cleveland Watkiss, Phillip Bent, Orphy Robinson, as well as Crosby himself).[5]

Tomorrow's Warriors, which has a multiracial make-up,[6] provides a platform for young musicians wishing to pursue a career in jazz, and aims "to inspire, foster and grow a vibrant community of artists, audiences and leaders who together will transform the lives of future generations by increasing opportunity, diversity and excellence in and through jazz."[7] Alumni of Tomorrow's Warriors have gone on to win many awards, including the Mercury Prize, given to the Ezra Collective in 2023.

Irons, a former vocalist turned manager and producer, and her partner Crosby also initiated the Dune Records label, which draws on talent from Tomorrow's Warriors, including such graduates of the organisation as Denys Baptiste, J-Life and Soweto Kinch.[6][8]

According to music journalist Richard Williams, "No single organisation has exerted a more profound or beneficial influence on jazz in Britain than Tomorrow's Warriors."[9]

Background

Since its inception by Gary Crosby and Janine Irons in 1991, Tomorrow's Warriors has worked towards devising and producing inspirational programmes and performance opportunities for new and emerging musicians, at the same time as developing culturally diverse audiences, being considered to have "nurtured many of the UK's leading jazz performers via its award-winning jazz education and emerging artists programme" with Tomorrow's Warriors alumni winning more than 50 awards and achieving successful careers in the music industry.[10]

Over the years Tomorrow's Warriors' activities have included a regular jam session, formerly held weekly at The Jazz Café, then from 2004 at The Spice of Life in Soho, where it remained active until Summer 2010.[11] The company went on to become a weekend resident at the Southbank Centre in London.[4] The Tomorrow's Warriors' programme provides a wide variety of opportunities ranging from workshops and showcases for young musicians to concerts and tours for established professional bands and orchestras, partnering with a network of local, national and international arts organisations, as well as commercial producers, venues, promoters and festivals. Tomorrow's Warriors is a National Portfolio Organisation of Arts Council England.[4] Trustees of Tomorrow's Warriors include Steve Abbott, Viv Broughton, Margaret Busby, Lainy Malkani, Nicky O'Donnell and Chris Panayi.[1][12]

Ensembles

Members of Tomorrow's Warriors, as well as participating in informal jam sessions, may go on to join one of the more formal ensembles, which include Tomorrow's Warriors StringTing,[13] Tomorrow's Warriors Female Collective,[14] a Junior Band (for young musicians aged between 11 and 15),[15] Tomorrow's Warriors Youth Orchestra,[16][17] and the flagship Nu Civilisation Orchestra.

Nu Civilisation Orchestra

In 2008, Tomorrow's Warriors established an orchestra initially to provide a platform for pianist/composer Peter Edwards – who was a participant in the young artist development programme[18] – to recreate Duke Ellington's rarely performed The Queen's Suite.[19][20][21] The orchestra was subsequently established as a permanent ensemble, under the musical direction of Edwards, called the Nu Civilisation Orchestra (NCO).[22]

Other major projects undertaken by the NCO include in 2013 a 50th-anniversary recreation of Charles Mingus's The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady (1963) at the Purcell Room,[23] about which London Jazz News wrote: "The ensemble was flawless. ...hard to imagine anyone in the packed Purcell room doubting that this was a moving, breathing work. The recording remains a wonder, but recreated live the music seemed fresh as ever and more vividly coloured, more intense. The result was like getting up close to a great painting you have only seen in reproduction: you get a fresh sense of why it is a masterpiece. I really hope it can be heard more widely."[24] More recently the NCO performed a live soundtrack to John Akomfrah's 2013 film The Stuart Hall Project,[25] and on International Women's Day 2017 played a concert of songs (featuring Lisa Hannigan, Sabrina Mahfouz and ESKA) from Joni Mitchell's classic 1976 album Hejira, at the Royal Festival Hall as part of the Women of the World Festival.[26][27]

In April 2017, it was announced that the NCO had secured a new residency at Rich Mix in east London.[28]

In 2020, the Jazz Hang initiative was announced, with Tomorrow's Warriors and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance joining forces in a collaboration "to redress the balance in representation at the grassroots level in the UK jazz scene by reaching out to young musicians from diverse backgrounds and introducing them to playing jazz".[29][30]

In 2022, as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra led by musical director Peter Edwards and featuring ESKA on vocals undertook a national tour presenting Mitchell's Hejira and Mingus about which the reviewer for The Arts Desk said: "Exceeding all hopes, this made Mingus and Mitchell's visions as vivid as they've ever been, and as breathtakingly advanced. An unbelievable experience."[31]

On 15 September 2023, at the Royal Festival Hall, a 32-piece all-string version of the NCO with saxophonist Nubya Garcia, an alumna of Tomorrow's Warriors, performed their exploration of Stan Getz's 1962 album Focus, together with two new works by Black British composers Oleta Haffner and the NCO's Peter Edwards – in a well-reviewed concert,[32][33][34][35] described as "instantly setting a new standard for the creative use of a string orchestra in jazz ... in a performance that mixed care and joy in admirable proportion."[9]

Other initiatives

In 2016, Tomorrow's Warriors announced a partnership with Jazz House Kids in Montclair, New Jersey, through which four young people from the Tomorrow's Warriors Young Artist Development Programme have been given scholarships to take part in the Jazz House Kids Summer Workshop at Montclair State University.[36]

In March 2017, Tomorrow's Warriors launched a new music education initiative, The Jazz Ticket, to mark the centenary of the birth of six iconic jazz figures: composer Tadd Dameron, vocalist Ella Fitzgerald, trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, pianist Thelonious Monk, drummer Buddy Rich and percussionist Mongo Santamaria.[37][38][39] As reported by Jazz FM, "'The Jazz Ticket' will be delivered in 54 schools in Southampton, Luton, Leicestershire, Manchester, Gateshead, Brighton, Bristol, Hull and London, and engage almost 600 young people as performers and many more as audience members."[40]

From 30 May to 3 June 2017, Tomorrow's Warriors was in residence at the Black Cultural Archives in Brixton (BCA), delivering performances and workshops alongside the BCA's Black Sound exhibition.[41][42]

In 2021, the organisation's 30th anniversary was celebrated with a variety of activities, culminating with "A Great Day in London" at the Southbank Centre's Queen Elizabeth Hall, billed as "the greatest London jazz happening in a generation", as Jazzwise magazine noted: "a gathering on a par with Art Kane's iconic 1958 photo A Great Day in Harlem. Even greater, maybe, given that each musician in the sprawling QEH line-up had a common denominator, and was fundraising for the same cause: Tomorrow’s Warriors, the pioneering jazz music development charity celebrating its 30th anniversary year."[43] A five-star review in The Telegraph concluded: "Tomorrow's Warriors' contribution to Jazz – not just British Jazz – has been nothing short of monumental. Their youth ensembles, Junior Band and Female Frontline, demonstrated the dizzy levels of talent rising from the next generation of young players. There's no doubt that it was indeed a Great Day In London."[44]

Awards and recognition

In 2017, Tomorrow's Warriors won the Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Education, and further awards went to alumni: Nérija, an all-female ensemble developed from Tomorrow's Warriors' Female Collective, won Best Newcomer, while Shabaka Hutchings was Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year.[2] Across the categories 14 alumni were shortlisted.[45]

Tomorrow's Warriors alumni have also been well represented at the Jazz FM Awards.[46] In 2019, some 19 of the 39 nominees for awards were former Tomorrow's Warriors; Jazzwise reported that at the presentation ceremony "act after act cites the Tomorrow's Warriors organisation as a crucial factor in their musical development."[47]

In October 2021, Tomorrow's Warriors was honoured with the Impact Award from Jazz FM.[48]

In September 2023, the Ezra Collective, a quintet composed of drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso, bassist TJ Koleoso, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, and tenor saxophonist James Mollison, who first met as participants of Tomorrow's Warriors, became the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize in its 31-year history,[49][50][51] Following the announcement of the award, Femi Koleoso paid tribute to the band's origins, saying: "This moment we're celebrating right here is testimony to good, special people putting time and effort into [helping] young people to play music.… let's continue to support that."[52]

Alumni

Graduates of Tomorrow's Warriors development programmes who have gone on to pursue successful careers include:[53][46][54]

References

  1. 1 2 "About | The Team". Tomorrow's Wrriors.
  2. 1 2 Peter Quinn, "2017 Parliamentary Jazz Awards: the votes are in", The Arts Desk, 12 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Jane Cornwell (22 April 2021). "Tomorrow's Warriors at 30 - the power behind London's jazz revival". Evening Standard.
  4. 1 2 3 "About". Tomorrow's Warriors.
  5. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors", The Real Histories Directory.
  6. 1 2 John Murph, "Do Your Own Thing: The Dune Label", JazzTimes, March 2004.
  7. ↑ Our Vision and Mission", Tomorrow's Warriors.
  8. ↑ "Record label PR file: Dune Records", The Independent, 31 January 2007.
  9. 1 2 Williams, Richard (16 September 2023). "Re-Focus". thebluemoment.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors Jazz Jam", Rich Mix.
  11. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors", Gary Crosby website.
  12. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors Trust", Tomorrow's Warriors.
  13. ↑ "String Ting to play at Tomorrow’s Warriors Christmas showcase", Marlbank, 20 December 2015.
  14. ↑ "Music For Youth 2014: Adrian Boult Hall, July 12", Classic FM.
  15. ↑ "Tomorrow's Warriors Junior Band at Lewisham People's Day July 2013". YouTube.
  16. ↑ "Young Artists Day: Tomorrow's Warriors Youth Orchestra", BBC Radio 3, 4 May 2015.
  17. ↑ "Tomorrow’s Warriors takeover + Steve Williamson & Gary Crosby", Serious, 19 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "About", Peter Edwards Music.
  19. ↑ "Nu Civilisation Orchestra", Tomorrow's Warriors website.
  20. ↑ "The Queen's Suite", British Films Directory, British Council.
  21. ↑ Corine Dhondee, "The Queen's Suite – Background to the making of the documentary", 14 February 2010.
  22. ↑ "Review: Nu Civilisation Orchestra", London Jazz News, 4 March 2012.
  23. ↑ "Nu Civilisation Orchestra – A JOURNEY WITH THE GIANTS OF JAZZ", YouTube.
  24. ↑ John Turney, "Review: Nu Civilisation Orchestra – The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady at the Purcell Room (LJF)", London Jazz News, 25 November 2013.
  25. ↑ "The Stuart Hall Project: Live. Peter Edwards and the NCO Ensemble Play the Music of Miles Davis", Rich Mix, 14 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "Celebrating #IWD2017 with songs from Joni Mitchell’s HEJIRA", Nu Civilisation Orchestra, 6 March 2017.
  27. ↑ Matilda Egere-Cooper, "Hejira, review: Magical tribute to a heroine", London Evening Standard, 9 March 2017.
  28. ↑ "Nu Civilisation Orchestra gets London residency", Nu Civilisation Orchestra website, 4 April 2017.
  29. ↑ "We Announce Jazz Hang with Trinity Laban". Tomorrow's Warriors. 30 November 2020.
  30. ↑ "The Jazz Hang with Tomorrow's Warriors". Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  31. ↑ Joe Muggs (22 November 2022). "Nu Civilisation Orchestra & ESKA: 'Hejira' and 'Mingus', Poole Lighthouse review - redistributing the future". theartsdesk.com.
  32. ↑ Chloe Billington, "Nu Civilisation Orchestra & Nubya Garcia", MusicNews.Com, 16 September 2023.
  33. ↑ John L. Walters, "Nu Civilisation Orchestra with Nubya Garcia: ‘Focus’ at the Royal Festival Hall", London Jazz News, 18 September 2023.
  34. ↑ Tom Spargo, "Nubya Garcia brings a modern edge to Stan Getz’s Focus at Royal Festival Hall", Jazzwise, 18 September 2023.
  35. ↑ Danny Silverstone, "Focus From Stan Getz and Eddie Sauter to Nubya Garcia and The Nu Civilisation Orchestra", My Life In Jazz, 19 September 2023.
  36. ↑ "NEWS: Tomorrow’s Warriors announces partnership with Jazz House Kids (Montclair NJ)", London Jazz News, 2 August 2016.
  37. ↑ "The Jazz Ticket". Tomorrow's Warriors. 4 May 2018.
  38. ↑ "Just The Jazz Ticket: Tomorrow's Warriors Unveil New Music Education Project", Jazzwise, 9 March 2017.
  39. ↑ "The Jazz Ticket: Nu Civilisation Orchestra marks 100 years of the birth of six Giants of Jazz", Nu Civilisation Orchestra, 16 February 2017.
  40. ↑ "Tomorrow’s Warriors jazz workshop hits 54 schools", Jazz FM, 19 January 2017.
  41. ↑ "Tomorrow’s Warriors takeover Black Cultural Archives 30 May-3 June", Tomorrow's Warriors, 22 May 2017.
  42. ↑ Laura Burgoine, "Tomorrow’s Warriors’ summer jam session in Brixton", Weekender, 31 May 2017.
  43. ↑ Jane Cornwell (9 December 2021). "Tomorrow's Warriors Three-Decade Legacy Celebrated At A Great Day In London Southbank Gala". Jazzwise. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  44. ↑ Tina Edwards (5 December 2021). "A Great Day in London, review: a dizzying array of talent proves the UK jazz scene is alive and well". The Telegraph.
  45. ↑ "Tomorrow’s Warriors + alumni shortlisted for six Parliamentary Jazz Awards!", Tomorrow's Warriors, 22 September 2017.
  46. 1 2 "Tomorrow’s Warriors Alumni Clean Up at the Jazz FM Awards", Tomorrow's Warriors, 2 May 2018.
  47. ↑ Eddie Myer (13 May 2019). "Tomorrow's Warriors Legacy Real Winner at JazzFM Awards 2019". Jazzwise. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  48. ↑ "Jazz FM Awards 2021 with PPL and PRS for Music - Livestream". 28 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021 – via YouTube.
  49. ↑ "Ezra Collective win Mercury Music Prize 2023". BBC News. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  50. ↑ "Ezra Collective Win The Mercury Prize 2023!". BBC Music. 7 September 2023.
  51. ↑ Nugent, Annabel; Roisin O'Connor (7 September 2023). "Mercury Prize: Ezra Collective become first jazz act to win in award's 31-year history". The Independent.
  52. ↑ Muir, Hugh (8 September 2023). "Take the vitality of diverse Britain, set it to music. That's why Ezra Collective deserve their Mercury prize". The Guardian.
  53. ↑ Alumni, Tomorrow's Warriors.
  54. ↑ Mike Vinti (4 April 2019). "As everyone gets hooked on jazz, Ezra Collective are the group most locked into a groove". Loud And Quiet. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
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