Mellow Baku [Jazz]

About this event

“A new voice in British music, with an original blend of reggae soul and jazz…. Superb voice, brilliant music, a must for all” – Courtney Pine, OBE Saxophonist Presenter & Producer

“That velvety, molten voice seemed to literally bring a surge of heat into the auditorium. Unforgettable” – Dr Nima Poovaya-Smith, Alchemy

A uniquely charismatic live performer, Mellow Baku has performed in venues throughout the UK and internationally for over a decade, solo and in collaboration with artists, from duos to jazz orchestras and pop sessions in Copenhagen to touring with Afro-dub band Soothsayers. Venues include London Southbank, Warwick Arts, North Sea Jazz Festival, with gigs in Switzerland, Denmark and New York.

Born in London to a Blues singing hippie and Trinidadian Rastafarian activist writer and actor, Mellow was moved to the Midlands as a child and raised in a commune without radio, secular music or books. She ran away to study fine art in Leicester and has been exploring freedom through music, art and writing ever since.

Mellow draws on her cultural heritage fusing soul, folk and jazz improvisation, which influences her unique approach to jazz standards. Solo work includes one woman shows at Nottingham Playhouse and Curve Theatre Leicester. Her soulful, uniquely expressive 3 octave range voice soars over original heartfelt songs and well-loved standards. Her 2022 live jazz theatre show for early years received national touring support from Arts Council England. ‘Mmm Ahh Whoosh’ toured sell out shows across the UK including at London Southbank, Opera North, Gulbenkian, Attenborough Arts and Warwick Arts Centres. Mellow had a 2-year stint with Nottingham’s popular funk, soul and disco band, Sticky Morales, and has toured sold out shows for Nottingham Libraries in 2017-18. She has completed three albums and received BBC Radio 2 airplay.

Line up
Mellow Baku – vocals
Paul Deats – piano
Martyn Spencer – bass
Andrew ‘Woody’ Wood – drums