From Here On Out

Description

Sonedo is a scene builder. This Nippo-Scottish producer, pianist and bandleader is at the forefront of a new essential British sound, blending jazz improvisation, rap and grime. His music is collaborative and flexible, a mix of live instruments intertwined with MCs and singers. Equally at home in a jazz setting or in a club, he has received support from Jamz Supernova and Gilles Peterson for his work with Rebecca Vasmant; he received the Peter Whittingham JazzDevelopment Award; and he headlined his first concert at the Lancaster Jazz Festival, confirming his place as one of the most captivating voices on the Scottish jazz and rap scene. Sonedo grew up in a large Japanese family, finding his voice for the first time at the piano at his cousin’s house at the age of seven. Based in Glasgow and completing his studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, he is establishing himself as a major figure in British jazz. A longtime fan of A Tribe Called Quest, J. Cole and especially Kendrick Lamar, his style also draws inspiration from jazz pioneers such as Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, as well as from the modern British movement led by Alfa Mist, Yussef Dayes, Venna and the Glasgow group Corto. Alto. Longtime musical director and bandleader of the group BEMZ,, Sonedo has become an essential link between the Scottish jazz and rap scenes. His production work reflects that same cross-generational ease. His collaborative projects embrace house and jungle-inflected drum & bass, and he has also brought his hybrid live approach into electronic spaces. A rising talent, Sonedo continues to develop a unique sound defined by collaboration, cultural openness and deep roots in jazz tradition and contemporary British club culture.