Theon Cross - Intra-I (New Soil)

WHAT YOUR EARS SAY & WHAT THE COVER LOOKS LIKE

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WHAT WE SAY

I've never been a fan of marching bands mainly because I always felt the tuba made the sound too clunky and slow swinging, well it's word eating tuba reevaluation time with Theon Cross' debut LP for New Soil that, more than his peers, swaggers effortlessly between jazz, the UK Caribbean music continuum & the grittier urban sounds of young England.

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WHAT THE RELEASE NOTES SAY

Theon Cross' new album, Intra-I, finds the gifted tuba player and composer creating a sound system powered by breath. This unique record is an uplifting celebration of Black music that, thanks to Cross' pioneering approach, helps to redefine the sonic possibilities of the tuba. Reflecting his own heritage, the young virtuoso melds jazz with dub, hip-hop, soca, grime and other sounds connected to the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Additionally, the record - which features Remi Graves, Shumba Maasai, Afronaut Zu, Ahnansé, Consensus and Oren Marshall - is Cross' first music to include collaborations with guest vocalists, adding a further new dimension. 

Theon Cross is at the forefront of the thriving London jazz scene. In 2015 he released solo EP Aspirationsand in 2019 followed it with his acclaimed debut solo album, Fyah. In addition to his solo endeavours, Cross is a core member of Mercury nominated group Sons Of Kemet and has collaborated with Little Simz, Stormzy, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Kano and others. An incredible live performer who's constantly looking to push boundaries, Cross participated in SXSW Online earlier this year by playing a live set from Abbey Road Studios and, using motion capture technology, as a 3D digital avatar in a VR showcase.​

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IF YOU LIKE THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS

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