Hannah Williams & The Affirmations + The Jazz Defenders - An Evening with Strings

George Cooper and James Graham present a spectacular evening of Soul, Jazz, Soundtrack and Hip Hop from two of the UK’s leading ensembles. Both bands will perform their music together with members guesting on each other’s repertoire, and the whole show arranged and performed with a world-class string section.

Internationally hailed as a beacon of relentless soul, Hannah Williams & The Affirmations were catapulted around the world when their song ‘Late Nights & Heartbreak’ was sampled by Jay-Z and became an instrumental part of his platinum selling, Grammy-nominated album ‘4:44’. The band has become a global success ever since, playing stages including Montreal Jazz Festival, Blue Note Milan and Blue Note Tokyo, and working with Tyler the Creator, Pete Rock and Guy Chambers.

The Jazz Defenders, having recently had two albums reach the top ten in the USA jazz charts and receiving worldwide acclaim, are a group that electrifies audiences with their mesmerising and virtuosic energy; uniquely defending the legacy of hard bop and soul jazz groove. They are led by one of the UK’s most formidable pianists and composers, George Cooper, who has worked and collaborated with Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, Omar, Slum Village, MF Doom, The Brand New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, The Haggis Horns and Abstract Orchestra.

Beginning life as an underground rapper, Doc Brown AKA Ben Bailey Smith, has diversified profoundly, moving into mainstream TV and film acting, stand up, screen writing and children’s books. He has a host of notable television performances under his belt and is highly regarded for his ongoing work with Ricky Gervais. Doc will be performing new and existing works with The Jazz Defenders as well as compering the show.

An unforgettable night of top-class music not to be missed.