Sons of Kemet
| Company type | Musical group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Shabaka Hutchings, Oren Marshall, Seb Rochford, Tom Skinner |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Jazz music albums |
Sons of Kemet was a British jazz ensemble founded by Shabaka Hutchings, Oren Marshall, Seb Rochford, and Tom Skinner. After their debut album, Theon Cross took over the tuba role from Marshall, while Eddie Hick succeeded Rochford on drums following the third album. The group officially ended their activities in 2022.
Career
The ensemble crafted a distinctive sound by merging saxophone and clarinet (played by Hutchings), tuba (initially Marshall, later Cross), and a dual-drummer setup (Skinner and later Hick). Their music fused elements of jazz, rock, Caribbean folk traditions, and African rhythms.
Their first album, Burn, was released on 9 September 2013 and earned the Arts Desk Album of the Year award for 2013, along with a nomination for Gilles Peterson's Album of the Year. Their second release, Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do, also received a nomination in 2015. In the same year as their debut, they secured the Best Jazz Act title at the MOBO Awards.
The third album, Your Queen Is a Reptile, was launched by Impulse! on 30 March 2018 and garnered a nomination for the prestigious 2018 Mercury Prize.
Their fourth studio project, Black to the Future, came out on 14 May 2021. It was lauded by Pitchfork as an energizing record that engages both mind and body, while The Observer highlighted its impactful lyrics and instrumental prowess.
On 1 June 2022, Sons of Kemet declared that they would be concluding their journey after fulfilling their remaining scheduled performances.
Band members
Final lineup
- Shabaka Hutchings – saxophone, clarinet
- Tom Skinner – drums
- Theon Cross – tuba
- Eddie Hick – drums
Former members
- Seb Rochford – drums
- Oren Marshall – tuba
Discography
- Burn (Naim, 2013)
- Lest We Forget What We Came Here to Do (Naim, 2015)
- Your Queen Is a Reptile (Impulse!, 2018)
- Black to the Future (Impulse!, 2021)
Videography
| Year | Title | Director | Choreographer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | "In the Castle of My Skin" | Motheo Moeng | Jarrel Mathebula |
| 2015 | "Play Mass" | Jordan Copeland | Valeria Tello Giusti |
Awards
- 2013 MOBO Awards – Winner of Best Jazz Act