What a long way Sultan Stevenson has come. I cast my mind back to the first time I heard his trio in September 2021. They were in a potentially tricky slot, playing as support for Billy Cobham at the Jazz Cafe. That felt like a hazardous mission, to connect with an audience with its mind already focused on getting its expected reward: an explosive barrage of fusion drumming from the great Panamanian.
On that occasion, Sultan, Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters had to work hard to win over the audience. But, as I wrote at the time, they seemed to know exactly what they needed to do. I was both surprised and impressed to see how quickly, effectively and assuredly – as a mere secondary attraction – they had been able bring the crowd with them. (LINK TO REVIEW).
Sultan’s rise since graduating from Guildhall School in early summer 2023 has been even more spectacular. He was awarded “Jazz Newcomer of the Year” at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards just a few days after his Guildhall final recital. His jazzahead! showcase performance in April 2024 was a great success. His touring schedule all across Europe is increasingly busy, with a particularly successful tour to Ireland just one highlight among many.
2021 was then, and this is now. We had quite some build-up before the actual music from the group got under way. We had an anticipatory chat session…a documentary film…an effusive warm-up from Gordon Wedderburn.…So, by the time they finally appeared to play their set, they had already been acclaimed (rightly), lauded (loudly), and by the time they left the stage and had been begged for an encore (vociferously but unsuccessfully), the London launch event for Sultan’s second album “El Roi” (Edition) definitely had turned into a proper celebration.
And yet it is Stevenson’s humility which shines through. The fact that the event was being held at the Southbank Centre, he explained, was laden with personal significance: it brought back memories of taking the 243 bus all the way from Bruce Grove in Tottenham to come down to his formative Tomorrow’s Warriors sessions. So the event had the satisfying sense of closing a circle.
Photo credit Daniel Devlin
In his review of the album (link below), AJ Dehany warms to the way in which Sultan Stevenson’s “musical and spiritual vision unfolds”. Sultan talked at the event of how he tries to create a different world in each piece. And the album does indeed allow us as listeners quiet moments to enjoy this beautifully paced music. Attending this launch event was a chance to dig in to the ease with which the music flows, to enjoy some irresistibly hooky tunes, and to hear the splendour of the quintet with Soweto Kinch and Josh Short in full, energetic flow. And, above all, to celebrate a rising star of British jazz.
SET LIST
Unspeakable Happiness
A Region In My Mind
Arise
My Unbelief
Purpose
Wisdom
I Believe
El Roi
FIRST HALF
Gabriel Deji (host/interviewer)
Lottie Mac (cover art director)
Genesis Tennison (assistant)
Jenniah-Mae Lynch (photographer)
Leroy Boateng (film maker)
SECOND HALF
Gordon Wedderburn (guest announcer)
Sultan Stevenson – piano
Jacob Gryn – Bass
Joel Waters – Drums
Josh Short – Trumpet
Soweto Kinch – Tenor Saxophone
