London Jazz Festival: Shez Raja Collective

Virtuoso bass player Shez Raja and his world-class band perform their unique brand of powerhouse Indo-jazz funk. Tonight they celebrate the release of Raja’s highly-acclaimed album, Gurutopia, recorded with global jazz legends Randy Brecker and Mike Stern.

Shez leads a formidable line-up tonight that features Polish folk-jazz singer Monika Lidke providing beautifully structured melodic vocals in front of a band that is completed by Vasilis Xenopoulos on saxophone, Pascal Roggen on violin, Alex Stanford on keyboards and Chris Nickolls on drums.

The Collective's live show is an eclectic headcharge of raw energy and always leaves audiences uplifted, inspired and asking for more. Following headline performances at international jazz festivals from Russia to New Zealand they have forged a reputation as one of the most entertaining live acts on the scene today.

Expect exciting music that’s full of surprises – a sonic kaleidoscope of euphoric jazz, thundering funk, tuneful ragas and intoxicating grooves!

"A tailor-made festival band with a unique identity" - The Guardian ★★★★

"Shez Raja personifies the modernisation of jazz. He is fearless as a musician" - All About Jazz ★★★★+

"I thought my head was going to explode. It sounds like it's come from the future!" - Bradford Telegraph ★★★★★

"Multi-layered and imaginative" - Manchester Evening News ★★★★

“The hip-shaking mix of Eastern song lines and funky Western dance-beats never wavers” - Evening Standard ★★★★