"A very sophisticated singer with a strong voice..." —Jazzwise Magazine
Determined to blatantly marry all his influences on one stage, Aimua Eghobamien combines his jazz and classical backgrounds with Nigerian roots and contemporary sensibilities to reach beyond the limits of genre classification. With original compositions, freshly realised arrangements—of music by Gabriel Fauré, Henry Purcell, Johann Sebastian Bach, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and Randy Newman—and an exhilarating ensemble this programme is a lyrical exploration of one artist's formation.
Collaborating on arrangements and joining the ensemble are bassist Jerome Davies ('astute arrangements' —Sunday Times), violinist Julian Ferraretto ('sinuous and dynamic... phenomenal skills' —Real Time Arts) and pianist Rob Barron (BBC Big Band, Phil Woods, Bryan Adams, English National Ballet's Gershwin project). In addition, Chris Wells on percussion, Mandy Drummond on violin, Naomi Fairhurst on viola and Kate Shortt on cello.
Last year Eghobamien released and toured his debut album, Poured Gently, to rave reviews. The album combines fresh and unusual arrangements of jazz and pop standards from Ellington, Monk, Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and Bon Jovi with haunting and melodic original compositions and thoughtful lyrics.
With a dad who listened to a world of music from British Pop to Highlife and Calypso, a mum who sang him Ẹdo lullabies and siblings who were interested in all things American his musical tastes developed without limitations. Living at various points on three continents, this London-born singer has experienced at firsthand Nigerian drums and folk, European Pop and American R&B. Eghobamien studied Jazz Vocal Performance and Creative Writing at university in New York; taught by the Tony and Emmy Award-winning American singer and actress Lillias White and the legendary jazz singer Sheila Jordan. He studied voice with Mark Oswald, one of the Metropolitan Opera's leading voice teachers. He was a member of Barry Harris' Jazz Ensemble Choir.
Appearances include an on-going monthly residency at The Pheasantry, dates at Pizza On the Park, the Spice of Life, the Vortex Jazz Club, Ray's Jazz, Café in the Crypt and Hugo's. The Poured Gently tour, with pianist Glafkos Kontemeniotis, bassist Jerome Davies and drummer Rod Youngs, included Pizza Express Jazz Club London, National Theatre Foyer London, Matt and Phred's Jazz Club Manchester, St Lawrence Chapel Ashburton, Jazz at the Lescar Sheffield, Pave Hull, and CaféJazz and Jazz at Dempsey's Cardiff. He has performed with some of the UK's favourite jazz musicians including Barry Green, Tim Richards, Gunther Kürmayr, Gary Crosby OBE, Mark Hodgson, Oli Hayhurst, Matt Home and Sebastiaan de Krom.
Determined to blatantly marry all his influences on one stage, Aimua Eghobamien combines his jazz and classical backgrounds with Nigerian roots and contemporary sensibilities to reach beyond the limits of genre classification. With original compositions, freshly realised arrangements—of music by Gabriel Fauré, Henry Purcell, Johann Sebastian Bach, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Wayne Shorter and Randy Newman—and an exhilarating ensemble this programme is a lyrical exploration of one artist's formation.
Collaborating on arrangements and joining the ensemble are bassist Jerome Davies ('astute arrangements' —Sunday Times), violinist Julian Ferraretto ('sinuous and dynamic... phenomenal skills' —Real Time Arts) and pianist Rob Barron (BBC Big Band, Phil Woods, Bryan Adams, English National Ballet's Gershwin project). In addition, Chris Wells on percussion, Mandy Drummond on violin, Naomi Fairhurst on viola and Kate Shortt on cello.
Last year Eghobamien released and toured his debut album, Poured Gently, to rave reviews. The album combines fresh and unusual arrangements of jazz and pop standards from Ellington, Monk, Gershwin, Stevie Wonder and Bon Jovi with haunting and melodic original compositions and thoughtful lyrics.
With a dad who listened to a world of music from British Pop to Highlife and Calypso, a mum who sang him Ẹdo lullabies and siblings who were interested in all things American his musical tastes developed without limitations. Living at various points on three continents, this London-born singer has experienced at firsthand Nigerian drums and folk, European Pop and American R&B. Eghobamien studied Jazz Vocal Performance and Creative Writing at university in New York; taught by the Tony and Emmy Award-winning American singer and actress Lillias White and the legendary jazz singer Sheila Jordan. He studied voice with Mark Oswald, one of the Metropolitan Opera's leading voice teachers. He was a member of Barry Harris' Jazz Ensemble Choir.
Appearances include an on-going monthly residency at The Pheasantry, dates at Pizza On the Park, the Spice of Life, the Vortex Jazz Club, Ray's Jazz, Café in the Crypt and Hugo's. The Poured Gently tour, with pianist Glafkos Kontemeniotis, bassist Jerome Davies and drummer Rod Youngs, included Pizza Express Jazz Club London, National Theatre Foyer London, Matt and Phred's Jazz Club Manchester, St Lawrence Chapel Ashburton, Jazz at the Lescar Sheffield, Pave Hull, and CaféJazz and Jazz at Dempsey's Cardiff. He has performed with some of the UK's favourite jazz musicians including Barry Green, Tim Richards, Gunther Kürmayr, Gary Crosby OBE, Mark Hodgson, Oli Hayhurst, Matt Home and Sebastiaan de Krom.
