Watford Jazz Festival: Mark Kavuma @ Watford Pump House Theatre and Arts Centre

One of the capital's most exciting trumpeters, Mark Kavuma, performs a standalone show for the first time in Watford at part of the Watford Jazz Junction Festival.

Over the last decade composer, trumpeter and bandleader Mark Kavuma has established a reputation as an influential figure, performing at the cutting edge of the vibrant London nu-jazz scene. He has released eight albums as leader featuring his original compositions: Kavuma (2018), voted among the best albums of the year by Downbeat magazine, The Banger Factory (2019), Arashi No Ato (2021), Back-to-Back (2022), The Banger Factory – Warriors (2022), Erskine & Kavuma – Ultrasound (2023), The Dandy (2024) and fresh off the press: Mark Kavuma & The Banger Factory – Magnum Opus (2024).

As a performer, Kavuma is renowned for his unique, distinctive trumpet sound. His lyricism, soulful tone and graceful technique spread infectious joy and mutual excitement among audiences and fellow musicians. His evolving compositional flair immerses fellow band members in the vibrant, contemporary world of colour, texture, and harmony that epitomises his musical style. Kavuma is contingent upon bringing the people a good time. He has developed and nourished a truly unmistakable ‘sound’, with his band featuring some of the most gifted and engaging musicians on the scene today.

Band line-up: Mark Kavuma – trumpet; Jack Garside – bass; Jack Thomas – drums: Deschanel Gordon – piano

Support act: Oscar Lyons Quartet

Also on the bill is a very special support set from the Oscar Lyons Quartet. Oscar is an exceptional pianist performing his own compositions, who first played with us in our 2023 festival and is now studying at the Royal Academy of Music. Included in his band is BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2024 finalist, tenor saxophonist George Johnson.

Support act line-up: Oscar Lyons – piano; George Johnson – tenor sax; Zaki Osahn – double bass; Ananda Brandão – drums