Legendary dance and RnB outfit Soul II Soul and acid jazz pioneers The Brand New Heavies are coming to Ipswich.
Borrowing from Philly soul, disco, reggae and 1980s’ hip-hop, Soul II Soul originally featured producer, singer and songwriter Jazzie B; producer and arranger Nellee Hooper and instrumentalist Philip “Daddae” Harvey.
Their residency at the Africa Centre in London’s Covent Garden led to a record contract with 10, a subsidiary of Virgin. Subsequent singles Fairplay and Feel Free soon attracted attention in clubs and the press.
Featuring the vocals of Caron Wheeler, who will be joining Jazzie B and a full live band at the Corn Exchange on December 7, Soul II Soul’s third single Keep on Movin’ reached the UK top 10. Back to Life, also featuring Wheeler; did the same.
Lighting up the dance scene with their mix of jazz, funk and soul for more than two decades, The Brand New Heavies visit to the Regent on May 31 coincides with the April 15 release of their first full studio album in seven years, Forward.
“We have the grounding and the history. We started as a live band and did it hard, just playing clubs, pubs, anywhere that would have us for a long time before we got a record deal. We weren’t just centred around a record and that’s the way it should be,” says Jan Kincaid.
Tickets for Soul II Soul are on sale now. Tickets for The Brand New Heavies go on sale next Thursday.
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