Be part of a live jazz video-album!

Aim: SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC - AND BE IN ON OUR VIDEO/ALBUM! Back our Crowdfunder & get music & tickets to be in the audience for the recording

The Why

We want to bring the joy of live, pulsing, electric, improvised music to loads more people - especially in an age where everyone's looking at screens, venues are closing and people are losing connection with each other.

We five musicians are dedicated to opening up jazz to be inclusive, democratic, exciting, funky...and fun! 

And we want YOU to be a part of this too.

The Problem

Musicians & performers are struggling against the forces of

• diminished royalties
• fewer people at gigs
• fewer grass-roots venues
• busy social media where the algorithm chooses what you view
• disappearing local newspapers, magazines & What's On publications

All these things make it difficult for people to know about and get to live shows.

Despite the above pressures, WE WON'T BE DEFEATED!

We want to crowdfund the recording of jazz joy!

From 7pm on Sunday 8 December 2024 at Ashburton Arts Centre, Devon we want to put on a superb show of music crackling with energy, with TWO fantastic jazz bands on the bill, before a packed live audience. And then we want to film it - making a live video/audio album.

The bands on the bill feature some of the same people, but with different repertoires and vibes.

But both outfits complement each other perfectly...and we'll all end up playing together on the same stage in a gloriously funky finale.

The bands on the bill are:

The Blow-Up

A distinctive, dynamic mixture of instrumental cinematic jazz grooves. Stylish and accessible, members of The Blow-Up draw on a rich pool of 1960s and 1970s soundtrack tunes and take them to the max.

Imagine the music of Get Carter, Alfie, Bond, Black Orpheus, Bullitt, Midnight Cowboy funkified & extemporised. Like this: 

Mama Tokus & The King Tut Trio

A marriage of soul-jazz, mod Mama mayhem, soulful improvisations, unexpected cover versions, electric keyboard grooves, verbal riffery and some hard-funkin’ fun too.

How YOU play a part in this

As musos being buffetted in a tough climate for artistry, we're trying new ways to create art, atmosphere & incredible music experiences and memories for YOU - including creating this Crowdfunder.

It's a win-win! 

You get to come to a cracking show (and we'll make sure it is, just for you) and you create atmosphere for our video/audio recordings. You even get a copy of the recording as a CD afterwards, as part of your Crowdfunder reward.

Here's what the vibe was like when The King Tut Trio & Mama Tokus filled up Totnes Cinema last year, with people singing along and dancing...to JAZZ:

Meet the musicians

Both bands are wondrous meetings of musical minds, joyful creativity and dynamic action. If you don't know us yet, allow us to introduce ourselves:

Tom Unwin

Tom is the visionary, open-hearted bandleader and pianoman in both bands whose progressive ideas propel us all. He is a full-time musician and music-educator who leads jazz jams and encourages kids and grown-ups to get into music wherever possible.

Marcus Vergette

He’s a Big Bass Badass who makes bells, sculpts and supports butterflies through organic farming in his other life.
He plays in both bands.

Ric Byer

Ric’s a bare-footed, in-demand sticksman (and multi-instrumentalist prog-fusionist to boot). He's been playing musical instruments since he was a tiny tot (he's shown us the pictures!). He plays in both bands.

Stig Olson

Stig plays multiple saxes and bass clarinet with panache, verve and not a little skill. A consummate musician, he also shapes sounds as a composer, sound designer, producer and educator. He plays in The Blow-Up.

Mama Tokus 

Mama sings, writes, raps and performs punchy commentaries on modern/mythic life, with a big dose of soul and humour too.
She performs with The King Tut Trio.

Grab your Reward(s) 

We’ve come up with a suite of Rewards that we hope will encourage you to support us - all of which include a ticket to the show. 

                                 +++++++

IF YOU'RE VIEWING THIS ON A MOBILE, GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE AND YOU'LL SEE:

               Overview - Rewards - Feedback

CHOOSE REWARDS TO SEE WHAT WE'LL GIVE YOU!

                                +++++++

Blow Up your wardrobe - and support us simultaneously

Some rewards include specially-designed garments (made from organic, recyclable cotton), like these:

Join in with our joyous jazz recording

We promise to make this a fabulous, fun and absolutely memorable night of music for you. And you get to hear and see TWO exciting bands, and witness the first ever mashup of the TWO bands!!

So please take part and be part of our recording. 

Help create a buzzing atmosphere by supporting our campaign to record The King Tut Trio with Mama Tokus, The Blow-Up, and The Blow-Up with Mama Tokus! 

All in one night!