Seed. (formerly, SEED Ensemble) is a London-based jazz band led by Cassie Kinoshi, an alto saxophonist who is a fairly active member of the city's jazz circles and a frequent collaborator to many. The band operates in the same Afrobeat meets Caribbean sound meets grime framework that has been the city's calling card in recent years, though they lean a little into a more classic sound and add a distinct big band feel to their music that most of their peers do not. The name Charles Mingus and his big brass sound often pops into one's mind while listening to their work. They have an excellent line-up top to bottom including Kinoshi's Nerija bandmates Sheila Maurice-Grey (trumpet), Shirley Tetteh (guitar), and Rio Kai (bass). Their second album BalletBoz: Bradley 4:18 is part of her collaboration with the London dance group, and finds Kinoshi and Seed. go deeper into a more contemporary, stage-ready style with fluid rhythms and harmonies.
