Xhosa Cole is a British tenor saxophonist. He was the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 2018, and was named "Jazz Newcomer of the Year" at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2019. Cole has released three albums on Stoney Lane Records.

Biography

Xhosa Cole was born in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, UK.[2] In 2018 he was named BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year,[3] and in 2019 he won "Jazz Newcomer of the Year" at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards.[4]

Cole's debut album K(no)w Them, K(no)w Us, comprising seven songs from the Great American Songbook, was released on Stoney Lane Records in 2021.[5] The Financial Times praised Cole's "maturity and strong vision" on the album.[6] His second album Ibeji (Yoruba for "twins") was released in 2022,[7] and features duets with seven percussionists from the African diaspora, including Lekan Babalola.[8]

In 2025 Cole released his third album, On A Modern Genius Vol 1, an album of Thelonious Monk covers (and one Duke Ellington cover).[9] All About Jazz called the album "a testament to the vitality of the young jazz scene."[10]

Discography

Albums

  • K(no)w Them, K(no)w Us (2021, Stoney Lane)
  • Ibeji (2022, Stoney Lane)
  • On A Modern Genius Vol 1 (2025, Stoney Lane)

References

  1. ^ Tony Benjamin (2021-11-09), "Xhosa Cole: Young King Cole", Jazzwise, retrieved 2025-02-07
  2. ^ "Xhosa Cole", BBC, retrieved 2025-02-07
  3. ^ "22-year-old saxophonist Xhosa Cole wins BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year", Jazzwise, 2018-11-25, retrieved 2025-02-07
  4. ^ Peter Bacon (2019-12-04), "2019 Parliamentary Jazz Award winners", UK Jazz News, retrieved 2025-02-07
  5. ^ Chris May (2021-08-14), "Xhosa Cole: K(no)w Them, K(no)w Us", All About Jazz, retrieved 2025-02-07
  6. ^ Mike Hobart, "Xhosa Cole's impressive recording debut showcases his strong vision", The Financial Times, retrieved 2025-02-07
  7. ^ Daniel Spicer, "Xhosa Cole – Ibeji (review)", The Wire, no. 466 (December 2022), p. 52
  8. ^ Bill Milkowski (2023-03-14), "Xhosa Cole Goes Full Griot", DownBeat, retrieved 2025-02-07
  9. ^ Daniel Spicer, "Birmingham based tenor saxophonist Xhosa Cole tackles the legacy of the immortal Thelonious Monk", The Wire, no. 493 (March 2025), p. 45
  10. ^ Jack Kenny (2025-02-01), "Xhosa Cole: On A Modern Genius (Vol.1)", All About Jazz, retrieved 2025-02-07
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhosa_Cole
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