Sultan Stevenson is one of the most exciting young jazz musicians around today and is making some serious waves at home and abroad. He emerged onto the UK scene in 2020, quickly establishing himself as an artist of note and drawing early comparisons with Esbjörn Svensson. Performing his highly original compositions with Jacob Gryn on bass and drummer Joel Waters, Sultan has recently wowed audiences at Jazz Re:freshed, The Jazz Cafe, The Vortex and The EFG London Jazz Festival. Of his compositional work, it is said that his blues sensibility, the feeling of swing and the group dialogue mark him out as an artist whose star is very much on an upward trajectory.

Sultan released his much-anticipated debut album Faithful One on Whirlwind Recordings in March 2023. Following a sold-out launch at London’s Jazz Café and a nationwide UK tour, the release is receiving widespread critical acclaim and his collaboration with renowned tenor saxophonist Denys Baptiste is lauded as a particular highlight. Jazzwise observed “[Sultan] has technique to spare but, more importantly, he swings. He makes effective use of contrasts, in dynamics and in line, spinning effortlessly between piano and forte and from reflective, economical single-note passages to passionate chordal ones.” Jazz Views described Stevenson as “a thrilling force”.

A recent graduate of the prestigious Guildhall School of Music, Sultan cites the earlier training he received at the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and Tomorrow’s Warriors as being key to his artistic development. From a young age, he blossomed under the tuition of distinguished jazz musicians Julian Joseph, Gary Crosby, Simon Purcell and Robert Mitchell. He has drawn inspiration from the work of musicians such as McCoy Tyner, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen and Ahmad Jamal but, as an artist, Sultan is being hailed as ‘a true original’.

Winner of many prestigious awards (Mercury Music Prize for Album of the Year, Mobo Award for Best Jazz Act, Parliamentary Jazz Award for Best Album), Denys Baptiste is an immense talent. His powerful technique, edge-of-your-seat virtuosity and ability to improvise fluently and effortlessly across a wide range of musical styles has won him legions of fans throughout the UK and internationally. Over the years, Denys has evolved into what Time Magazine describes as “the icon of British jazz”, with a most distinctive and immediately recognisable sound.

A much sought after soloist, Denys has played and/or recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz and other genres including McCoy Tyner, Andrew Hill, Ernest Ranglin, Bheki Mseleku, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Michael Bowie, Courtney Pine, Manu Dibango, Gary Crosby, Steve Williamson, Julian Joseph, Jason Rebello, Martin Taylor, Juliet Roberts, Incognito and Jazz Jamaica.

An artist with a stellar recording career, his brilliant release on Edition Records The Late Trane expertly reimagines and reworks ten carefully chosen compositions from John Coltrane’s late music (from 1963 – 1967) to create fresh and new interpretations. Nominated for two Jazz FM awards, The Late Trane perfectly balances Denys’ unique artistic vision with the visceral emotions and cosmic references that encompasses Coltrane’s late music.