Trinity Laban jazz alum and teacher Xhosa Cole’s On a Modern Genius Vol. 1 named The Guardian’s Jazz album of the month

BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year (2018) and Trinity Laban Jazz graduate Xhosa Cole released his third album with Birmingham’s Stoney Lane Records: On a Modern Genius Vol.1 at the start of this year. Rated four stars in The Guardian and named February’s Jazz album of the month, On a Modern Genius Vol. 1 is a series of dynamic live recordings with Xhosa’s quartet; Steve Saunders on guitar, Josh Vadiveloo on bass, Nathan England-Jones on drums.

The album also features tap dancer Liberty Styles and vocalist Heidi Vogel, who recently performed at Blackheath Halls with Trinity Laban Jazz orchestra as part of Bruno Heinen’s quartet, The W.

On a Modern Genius Vol.1 pays tribute to the musical ingenuity and innovation of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk. The Guardian praises Xhosa as “an erudite young sax master” who “catches Monk’s wild spirit” and will “surprise even the most devout buffs, and hook the most unsuspecting of jazz newbies too.” The album has been marked as a top Editor’s Choice in Jazzwise among the best new jazz albums. The magazine commends Xhosa’s impressionist takes on Monk staples as “some of the freshest you’ll hear – freewheeling, playful and richly expressive – true to the composer’s spirit.” Clash Magazine has applauded Xhosa’s “electrified live tribute” and the album’s “sense of communal joy”, stating that Xhosa acts in “supreme bandleader mode”. In the week of its release, the album was marked Recording of the Week by Presto Music, described as “a perfect balance of old and new” and “sure to please and surprise.”

Xhosa’s previous releases include his critically acclaimed debut album K(no)w Them, K(no)w Us in 2021 and the well-received Ibeji in 2023. He has had numerous headline billings in the UK’s top Jazz Clubs including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express, Jazz in the Round, and the 606 showcasing his new ensemble Rhythm-a-ting, which explores the music of Thelonious Monk. He claimed the Parliamentary Jazz Award for ‘Best Newcomer’ in 2019, Jazz FM’s ‘Breakthrough Act of the Year’ in 2020, and has performed twice at the BBC Proms. Having graduated from Trinity Laban in 2021, Xhosa supported international jazz legend Cecile McLorin at Cadogan Hall for the London Jazz Festival in 2024. He has composed music for the Ripieno Players, recorded saxophone for Mahalia’s debut album Love and Compromise, and completed a 22 date UK tour. Xhosa has also played in Trinity Laban’s Associate Director and Head of Jazz Hans Koller’s Bird Migration Big Band, performed alongside Pat Thomas and Orphy Robinson’s Black Top and as a Soloist with the Royal Sutton Coldfield Orchestra. As a composer, Xhosa was commissioned by the Flatpack Film Festival to compose a 90 minute original work for the Silent film ‘Sidewalk Stories’ which featured UK improvising legend Mark Sanders, Sarah Farmer, and Hannah Marshall. Xhosa is passionate about supporting the next generation of jazz musicians and teaches at Trinity Laban and Birmingham for the Jazzlines Ensemble, mentoring a number of young plays in both London and Birmingham.