John J.A. Kreuger Agency

Night Time on the Middle Passage is the debut album from three-piece band Zed-U. The trio – bassist Neil Charles, reedsman Shabaka Hutchings and drummer Tom Skinner - have produced what Jazzwise calls something “fresh and exciting” and have already gained a strong word-of-mouth reputation on the London scene. Mixing improv with electronica, and even dub reggae, they appeal to jazz fans and non-jazz fans alike. 

The title Night Time on the Middle Passage refers to the intercontinental strip of sea between Africa and the West; depicting transition, the fusion of cultures and ways of life – all central to Zed-U's philosophy. The band’s interest in merging cultures, the development of the urban landscape and the need for self-expression have all influenced its music and also its approach to making music. It has been described as a band in flux, an apt description of a band whose work is constantly being re-worked. A number may be rehearsed and then played live until it’s perfect in terms of how it was originally conceived, written and arranged, but once that point has passed, the urge to do something different with it becomes overwhelming. This constant re-evaluation of its work means that tracks on Night Time on the Middle Passage will already have been reworked for live gigs by the time you listen to the album. 

With his input on composition and arrangement, John Surman is very much a part of Night Time on the Middle Passage. His suggestions were taken on board throughout the writing, recording and mixing process. Taking the raw elements of jazz and incorporating generous use of electronic loops and effects, Zed-U creates what they call a ‘symphony of sound’. This is a conscious decision – the band is after all, a striped down affair with only bass, drums and reeds – so each instrument effectively doubles up their contribution by adding electronic effects to their instrument, making a much larger sound. One of the most distinctive sounds to come out of this has been dub reggae, largely credited to drummer Tom Skinner, which can be heard lurking in several tracks, although never enough to take over and distract. 

NEIL CHARLES

An active member of the young generation of musicians on the British Music scene, Neil grew up in Birmingham alongside reggae and folk music. He was introduced to the twelve-bar blues at the age of seven and his love affair with blues guitar began then. Grasping a basic concept of music theory at an early age, he realised that it was always going to be a major part of his life and learning.

Moving to London he studied at the Trinity College of Music, studying classical Double Bass for four years with Chi-Chi Nwanoku (Leader of the Orchestra of Age Enlightenment). After graduating with a BMUS in classical music, he joined the jazz organisation for young musicians called Tomorrows Warriors. This is where he gained strong working relationships with trumpeter Jay Phelps, drummer Shane Forbes, Saxophonist Nathaniel Facey and Pianist Gwilym Watkins. With this band Neil enjoyed five years working at the Jazz Café - London, hosting the Sunday afternoon jam sessions, featuring Wynton Marsalis, Jason Moran, Robert Glasper, Joe Locke etc. This eventually led to the creation of Empirical, with whom he recorded the band’s debut album (nominated as “Best Album” at the BBC Jazz Awards 2008). He was then awarded a scholarship for a Masters course in jazz at Guildhall School of Music, after which he was in high demand and went on to work with a stunning array of musicians including: Mulatu, Jose James, Julia Biel, Finn Peters, Seb Roachford (Polar Bear), Abram Wilson, Juliet Roberts, Denys Baptiste, Dave Okumu, Jason Yarde, Orphy Robinson, Alan Weekes, Alex Wilson, Kevin Davey, Julian Siegel, Jean Toussaint, Charles Mingus Big Band (US), Giles Peterson, Nathan Haines (NZ), London Schools Symphony Orchestra, Christine Tobin, The Jerry Dammers Spatial Orchestra, Guy Barker, Courtney Pine, Dennis Rollins and Soweto Kinch, with whom he’s been an integral band member for more than four years. In spring ’09 Neil can be seen with Jack Dejohnette Orchestra at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, and European dates with Terence Blanchard. 

TOM SKINNER

Born in London, Tom started playing drums at the age of 9 and was gigging by the time he was 13. He studied drums privately, and at school, and also attended weekly Jazz workshops at W.A.C. (Weekend Arts College) under the tutelage of Ian Carr. He was a member of Gary Crosby's Tomorrows Warriors for four years and also part of the Denys Baptiste Quartet during this period. Tom was a member of the short-lived - but influential - group Jade Fox along with school friends Dave Okumu and Tom Herbert. Together they forged a new sound incorporating elements of Rock and Dance music, pushing the boundaries of Jazz and bringing it to a wider audience. Tom works within a very wide musical spectrum and has immersed himself in a diverse range of styles and genres. Current projects include Byron Wallen's Indigo (a long standing musical partnership of almost ten years), Finn Peters’ Finntet and appears on Finn's acclaimed album Su-Ling. Tom has also been performing and recording with the band Zero 7 and is featured on their 2006 album 'The Garden'. He is currently working with them on a new instrumental project entitled Ingrid Eto. Also a gifted composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist, Tom co-wrote and co-produced the album 'Insect Funk' with the band Elmore Judd. He is also working on a solo project melding his love for electronic music and free-jazz.

SHABAKA HUTCHINGS

Shabaka Hutchings (b 1984) is one of the most eclectic and musically adventurous instrumentalists on the London jazz scene. He is motivated by the aesthetics governing musical styles (especially jazz and contemporary classical music) and how these relate to improvisation, the treatment and movement of sound, and the essential purpose or meanings behind the will to create. His conceptualisation of the creative process has made Hutchings equally at home performing a broad array of styles whilst retaining a unique voice within them.Born in England and raised in Barbados, he completed an undergraduate degree in classical clarinet at the Guildhall School of Music in 2007. There he studied principally under Joy Farrall and Andrew Webster but also received jazz tuition from Tim Garland and Jean Toussaint. Highly regarded as a jazz soloist, Hutchings has performed with many new and established groups including Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Jack Dejohnette, Polar Bear and Red Snapper. He has recorded with Courtney Pine, Mulatu Astatke/The Heliocentrics and Soweto Kinch, among others.Hutchings is involved with London's thriving free improvising scene and is a member of the London Improvisers Orchestra. He has also performed in small groups with Evan Parker, Lol Coxhill, John Butcher and Louis Moholo, and has his own trio with John Edwards (double bass) and Mark Sanders (drums). His other main project is Zed-U, with Tom Skinner (drums/electronics) and Neil Charles (electric bass/electronics) whose debut album Night-time on the Middle Passage was released on Babel Records in 2009. Hutchings was selected for the 7th edition of the take 5 artist development scheme.