THE JAZZ WARRIORS INTERNATIONAL Presents…… 

The “VOICE – 1ST INSTRUMENT” sessions.  

Voice – 1^st Instrument is held on the 2^nd Sunday of every month and our event on the 12th May features 

NAJMA AHKTAR 

Drawing from the rich variation of voices from around the globe, The Jazz Warriors International select vocal masters to share their knowledge and experiences in an open and friendly environment.  This event combines vocal workshop plus an end of evening performance.

Come and join in a Vocal workshop experience with one of UKs best voice architects 

Doors 5pm   FEE  £5, workshop starts 5.30pm age 14+  

VENUE: The Old Baths, 80 Eastway, Hackney Wick, London E9 5JH

The UK has always been a musical melting pot of new sounds and ideas within the Jazz idiom. Artists like Joe Harriott, (who always incorporated a mixed demographic); Harry Beckett, Coleridge Goode right up to present day musicians such as Julian Joseph, Soweto Kinch and Cleveland Watkiss have excelled on the International Jazz stage over the past 50 years.  

In 2011, the Open University secured a grant to research Black British Jazz.  Twenty-five years later, the environment that led to the creation of the original Jazz Warriors are still prevalent in the UK. It is for this reason that we have now incorporated a new organisation, The Jazz Warriors International (TJWI), that will embrace the beliefs of the original band but have a wider social remit.

FREEDOM The Art of Improvisation Jam Session

This TJWI event, takes place on the 4th Sunday of each month (see EVENTS).  The FREEDOM Band includes: Pat Thomas, Claude Deppa, Orphy Robinson, Steve Noble, Doug Boyle and Neil Charles.

Spinning Vinyls – Paul 'Straight-no-Chaser' Bradshaw

OUR VISION 

To be recognised globally as the leading authority on African Diasporic Jazz in the UK.

OUR MISSION

The Jazz Warriors International recognises and respects the extensive melodic, harmonic and rhythmical excellence of music arising from the rich panorama of African Heritage. The organisation's Mission Statement is:  

"The Jazz Warriors International is committed to ensuring the fair and equitable representation of the African Diaspora UK Jazz presence in the areas of: National Heritage, the Arts, Education and Training, Promotion and Performances."

The Jazz Warriors International are guided by the following values and these values inform the expected outcomes of the organisation:

• Leadership: Utilising the expertise and experience within its leadership and advisory boards with some of the UK's highly respected Jazz musicians
• Challenge: Challenging and holding to account the policy and decision makers who can have a direct influence in supporting the company's vision and mission.
• Inspirational: Researching and showcasing the extensive heritage of African Diasporic Jazz in the UK and utilising jazz as an educational tool to encourage youth to embrace the UK's rich Jazz history
• Equality: Integrating equalities good practice within our organisation
• Consultative: Seeking the views of the African Diasporic Jazz environment
• Innovative: Introduction of African Diasporic Jazz into areas and situations that would not usually be considered for expressions of jazz
• Quality: Through identifying ways in which we can add value to our services, adopting best practice and setting standards

WHO WE ARE

Cleveland Watkiss

Cleveland is a Multi Award Winning Vocalist-Composer, actor & voice coach, with over 25 years experience, has shared the stage with the original Jazz Warriors and its associated members. Kenny Wheeler & John Taylor Big Bands, BBC Big Band & Orchestras; Internationally acclaimed USA artist like: Art Blakey, Jon Hendricks, Steve Coleman, Cassandra Wilson, Wynton & Branford Marsalis, right up to the new wave of young vibrant artists UK's Soweto Kinch and Gwilym Simcock.

Orphy Robinson

Orphy's musical career has been well documented on the International stage, he has the distinction to have been one of the few select musicians outside America to have been signed to the legendary record label 'Blue Note records'. Orphy has also greatly contributed to ground breaking initiatives in Music Education with one of these being an integral member of the design and content team for the ABRSM award winning online Educational presence 'Sound Junction'.

Wendy McPherson

Wendy has over 25 years experience of working in the political environment, both local and central government. She is an experienced diversity and cohesion specialist, has worked with a number of small to medium sized businesses and individuals to help shape their strategic direction and has recently returned to the UK after working as a Governance and Elections Advisor in Zambia for the leading Non-Government Organisation for the advancement of women in Leadership roles. On an artistic level, she trained with the Ballet Rambert, was the Business Manager and BV of a two year artist promotion project 'Afterglow Blu' and was a backing vocalist for a Candi Staton UK tour.

OUR HISTORY

The original Jazz Warriors, (a 25 plus members strong) band, was setup in the 1980′s for the many young Black jazz musicians around the UK who felt disenfranchised by the UK jazz scene. They experienced exclusion from venues and promoters who would not offer them bookings! In response, to individual and collective exclusion from certain established bands and clubs, they set about looking for alternative venues that would host their music.