Jay Phelps - Live at the Cockpit (2020)

Ubuntu Music is pleased to announce the continuation of its relationship with Jay Phelps, for the release of his next album, ‘Live at The Cockpit’.

Trumpeter, composer, band leader, educator and writer – Jay Phelps has performed with some of the world’s top names. With an instantly recognisable warm and projecting tone, Canadian born Phelps is a household name on the Jazz scene in the UK and his international presence is steadily growing. From his own quartet to his other projects NBOC and SoulEndvr, Phelps, who is never idle, remains fresh and full of new ideas and concepts. While living in Vancouver, Phelps was tutored by the city’s top jazz and classical trumpeters. He distinguished himself early on as the youngest bandleader in the Vancouver International Jazz Festival’s history at age 15. In 1999, aged 17, Jay moved to London and immersed himself in the jazz scene immediately.

Jay has performed and recorded with a veritable Who’s Who of international and famed jazz artists such as Courtney Pine, Andrew Hill, Wynton Marsalis, Ray Brown, John Hendricks, Nasheet Waits, George Benson, Jamie Cullum, Sir John Dankworth, Jean Toussaint, Dennis Rollins, Guy Barker, Amy Winehouse, Charlotte Church, Sam Moore, Hugh Masakela, Jazz Jamaica, Mighty Sparrow, Soweto Kinch, Skatroniks, Ska Cubano, Chineke Orchestra, David Murray and Liv Warfield.

Recorded April 26, 2018, Live at The Cockpit is the fifth album under Jay’s own name and his first live recording.

Jay explains, “This concert was my album launch, coupled with a recording for one the first ever J to Z shows for BBC 3. The Cockpit Theatre is the host venue for ‘Jazz in the Round’, headed by famed radio presenters/producers Jez Nelson and Chris Philips. Over the years, they’ve consistently curated world-class Jazz concerts in London, and I feel privileged to be able to release an album that was recorded as a result of their curation.”

And Jay continues, “This album, my third with the wonderful Ubuntu Music, is the full concert from start to finish and features some of London’s most in demand musicians: Rick Simpson (piano), Ferg Ireland (bass) and Will Glaser (drums). I really enjoy exploring my compositions further with these guys. They are all so dedicated to music and their craft as individuals, which enriches our band sound. We had a fantastic audience that night and I think you’ll agree when you hear their boisterous claps, hoots and hollers. I hope you enjoy the live atmosphere, which is something needed now more than ever in 2020.”