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New Generation Jazz Presents - New Generation Jazz continue their mission to bring the best international jazz talent to Brighton with their latest concert promotion in collaboration with Brighton Festival At The Dome.
On Saturday May 2nd we will be presenting Grammy-nominated US jazz-fusion legends Kneebody at the Dome Theatre for their only UK gig outside London.
Grammy-nominated band, Kneebody, are globally recognised as one of the most genre bending, adventurous and exciting bands of their generation for their sheer virtuosity and musicianship.
Their sound is an explosive blend of rock energy and high-level, nuanced chamber ensemble playing, and defies classification, drawing from influences that include 1960s free-bop, 1970s jazz rock, 1990s hip-hop, and post-millennial indie rock, all infused with a classical post-minimalist sensibility.
As part of our Jazz Futures programme, Kneebody will also be leading a pre-gig workshop for young musicians exclusively for New Generation Jazz.
Jazz Futures is a free access music education programme for young people. Based at Brighton Youth Centre, it delivers weekly group workshop sessions, individual talent development and career support, and high-profile performance opportunities for young musicians playing jazz.
9PM - KNEEBODY
"Cohesion is the truest constant in the music of Kneebody, a band that inhabits the borderland abutted by post-bop, indie-rock and hip-hop, without seeming to give much thought to the borders" NY TIMES
In their almost two-decade history, the Grammy-nominated band Kneebody has created a genre and style all its own. Their sound is an explosive blend of rock energy and high-level, nuanced chamber ensemble playing, set within the frames of highly wrought compositions that balance adventurous, no-holds-barred improvisation.
Now, in 2025, Kneebody embarks on an exciting new chapter with the release of their highly anticipated album, Reach, set to drop on April 18 via GroundUP Music. This marks the band's latest project as a quartet, featuring keyboardist Adam Benjamin, trumpeter Shane Endsley, saxophonist Ben Wendel, and the uniquely dynamic Nate Wood, who simultaneously handles both bass and drums. Reach exemplifies Kneebody’s continued evolution, pushing the boundaries of genre while delivering their signature blend of intricate composition and raw energy.
The album’s lead single, "Repeat After Me," is already available for streaming, giving audiences a first taste of Kneebody’s refined yet adventurous approach. Saxophonist Ben Wendel describes the track as a "cheeky song" that channels a Morse code-inspired melody through shifting harmonies and groove-driven intensity. With Reach, the band showcases their ability to weave together complex rhythmic structures, fiery improvisations, and a profound sense of collective synergy.
Kneebody’s journey began in their late teens at the Eastman School of Music and CalArts, where they formed deep musical connections that ultimately converged into the band’s distinctive voice amid the vibrant Los Angeles music scene in 2001. Since then, they have garnered critical acclaim and built a dedicated international following. Their music defies classification, drawing from influences that include 1960s free-bop, 1970s jazz rock, 1990s hip-hop, and post-millennial indie rock, all infused with a classical post-minimalist sensibility.
Throughout their career, Kneebody has continuously innovated, earning a Grammy nomination for their 2009 collaboration with Theo Bleckmann on 12 Songs of Charles Ives.
They have released a series of boundary-pushing albums, from The Line (2013) on Concord Records to Kneedelus (2015), a groundbreaking collaboration with electronic artist Daedelus on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label. Their discography also includes Anti-Hero (2017, Motéma Music), By Fire (2019), and Chapters (2019), their first full-length release as a quartet, featuring collaborations with Becca Stevens, Gretchen Parlato, Michael Mayo, Gerald Clayton, and Josh Dion.
With Reach, Kneebody is not just releasing an album—they are signaling a new era for the band. As they prepare to take the new music on the road, fans can expect an electrifying tour filled with their signature unpredictable energy, tight interplay, and spontaneous musical risk-taking. With a legacy of innovation and a future that continues to defy expectations, Kneebody remains at the forefront of modern creative music.
Personnel - Ben Wendel: tenor saxophone, effects; Shane Endsley: trumpet, synth bass, effects; Adam Benjamin: keyboards; Nate Wood: drums, electric bass.
8pm - NEW GENERATION JAZZ FUTURES ENSEMBLE
New Generation Jazz are proud to announce that the Jazz Futures Ensemble will be taking part in the Brighton Festival in the iconic Brighton Dome Studio.
Following an exclusive pre-gig mentorship session from Kneebody, Jazz Futures are excited to open the evenings proceedings with a range of specially commissioned pieces complimenting their explosive, jump-up, new-wave sounds.
Jazz Futures is a programme created by New Generation Jazz to encourage the wealth of young musical talent across the South of the UK.
It offers free weekly workshops and band classes under the leadership of respected educators Matt Ellis, Claire Ellis, and Bjorn Dahlberg with a range of guest tutors including some of the UK’s most exciting rising stars offering their expertise, and compositional works for our NGJF ensembles to perform. Some of the guest tutors we have worked with are Ife Ogunjobi, Emma Rawicz, Camilla George, Randy Brecker, Allexa Nava, Moses Boyd, Keyon Harrold, and Binker Golding to name only a few.
For full details - www.newgenerationjazz.co.uk
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Event Venue
Brighton Dome Theatre, 112 Church Street, Brighton, BN1 1UD, United Kingdom
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
