The Coronet Theatre Jazz Festival 2025: The Language Of Rhythm Feat Tom Skinner
(This is a past event and is no longer running)
The Coronet Jazz Festival is proud to present a landmark collaboration, placing the mercurial genius of drummer Tom Skinner squarely in the spotlight. This unique performance is a celebration of Skinner’s profound musicality – his fluid, melodic, and propulsive drumming that has defined eras from the London jazz renaissance to the art-rock of The Smile.
Tom Skinner is known, among others, as an original member of award winning band Sons Of Kemet alongside band-leader and frequent collaborator Shabaka Hutchings. He is also one third of The Smile, alongside Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood.
At the heart of this exploration is a deep, decades-long creative dialogue with festival curator and trumpet legend Byron Wallen. Having first met when Skinner was 16, their partnership has flourished across countless projects, from Wallen’s Indigo, As Is, and his Octet, to Skinner later bringing Wallen into the studio with The Smile. This event is the culmination of that shared journey: a masterful dialogue between Skinner’s rhythmic essence and Wallen’s luminous melodic voice.
Providing the monumental low-end is the revolutionary tuba virtuoso Theon Cross. A fellow Sons of Kemet member and a formidable bandleader, Cross has single-handedly reinvented the tuba as an instrument of immense groove, melody, and power. His presence guarantees a performance that is both rhythmically deep and sonically colossal.
Anchoring the rhythm section is the masterful Crispin “Spry” Robinson. A rhythm philosopher and scholar of sacred Afro-Cuban drum music, Spry’s academic rigor is electrified by a legendary career spanning the foundational beats of Soul II Soul and Roni Size, the iconic sounds of Galliano, and the avant-garde landscapes of Brian Eno. A former sponsored skateboarder, he brings a unique, kinetic energy from the street to the sacred.
The Coronet Theatre Jazz Festival 2025: The Primacy of Rhythm
The 2025 Coronet Jazz Festival, curated by renowned trumpeter Byron Wallen, is a deep exploration of the drum’s dynamic, melodic, and storytelling power. In a year that has seen the jazz world mourn the profound losses of rhythmic giants Al Foster, Louis Moholo, and Jack DeJohnette, the festival turns its focus to the living masters who carry the rhythm forward.
Also in the festival:
Fri 12 Dec
Doug Hammond: A Griot’s Journey
Legendary drummer, poet, composer, and singer Doug Hammond presents a singular performance that spans the full spectrum of his artistry, moving effortlessly from intimate solo expression to expansive trio collaboration.
Sat 13 Dec
The Endless Rhythm: A Tribute to Jack DeJohnette
A tribute to the vast and vibrant legacy of Jack DeJohnette: a drummer of profound influence, a visionary composer, and a spirit of boundless generosity. His music, a lifelong exploration of rhythm and melody, remains a guiding force.