Tune Up - Music Touring Across Scotland

Tours: Eska Mtungwazi Band

Thu 20th Mar 2008 - Sun 30th Mar 2008

Read the Scotsman review.

Eska Mtungwazi will be bringing her acclaimed band to Scotland for a series of performances around the country. Merging the boundaries between soul, jazz, folk and world music, Eska's unique vocal style and impeccable musicianship has guaranteed her fans around the globe after collaborations with artists as diverse as Nitin Sawhney, Tony Allen, Ty, Cinematic Orchestra and Courtney Pine.

Her band consists of some of the most in demand players in the UK: Julian Ferraretto (Violin), Anselmo Netto (Mandolin and Percussion), Robin Malarkey (Bass), David Okumo (Electric Guitar) and Tom Skinner (Drums). Previous performances include the North Sea Jazz Festival, London's Jazz Cafè, Barbados Jazz Festival and the Montreaux Jazz Festival.

This will be a unique opportunity for audiences around Scotland to sample the talents of one of the world's most in-demand, exciting and original artists, whose music knows no bounds and respects no boundaries.

As a vocalist, Eska has performed and collaborated with some of the UK's outstanding talents, including Nitin Sawhney, Damon Albarn, Cinematic Orchestra, Courtney Pine, Ty and IG Culture. Her unique vocal style is constantly in demand from producers worldwide. She has been dubbed the "Queen of UK soul" and compared to people like Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway and Carol King. 2007 will see the release of two Eska albums; one will be a hip-hop/nu-soul project and the other will be centred around her jazz/folk/African sound.

Individually, Eska's band members have outstanding CVs. Julian Ferraretto is a respected string arranger who has worked with Carleen Anderson and Karen Lane. Anselmo Netto, from Salvador, Brazil, played with some of Bahia's premiere Samba groups including De Boca In Boca and Terra Samba. Since arriving in London he plays the Bandolim (Brazilian 12-string Mandolin) regularly with Guida De Palma's Jazzinho, Ed Motta and Gilberto Gil. Robin Malarkey plays bass for Zero 7 and has collaborated with new wave jazz artists such as Bembe Segue and Finn Peters. David Okumo is the founder member of Jade Fox, and is a first call guitarist for London's "broken beat" pioneers Bugz In The Attic, 4hero and Mark de Clive-Lowe. Tom Skinner plays drums for Zero 7, Tomorrow's Warriors, Denise Baptiste and once for the late Stanley Turrentine.

While all of the musicians in Eska's band have outstanding individual reputations, the ensemble have a recognised track record in their own right and a tight, electrifying show is promised. They have played many prestigious dates, including the Barbados Jazz Festival, Montreaux Jazz Festival, RISE Festival, North Sea Jazz, London's Jazz Cafe and even The Houses of Parliament. Her performances have been televised several times, including her 2005 show with Courtney Pine at The Barbican for the BBC's acclaimed Jazz Britannia Series and a special performance for 4Music on Channel 4.