“Garcia weds past and present… rooted yet enticingly progressive.” – All About Jazz
Nubya Garcia isn’t an artist you can easily classify. Is it jazz? Sure, the London-born saxophonist, composer and bandleader grew up studying under the noted pianist Nikki Yeoh at Camden Music. But it isn’t until you listen to albums like 2020’s Source and 2024’s Odyssey that you hear broader creativity shining through. It’s jazz, classical, dub, R&B and whatever else Garcia wants to convey. Further, it all comes from a place of exploration and self-study. It’s wanting to do all the things across all disciplines while ignoring arbitrary boxes that don’t fit.
Garcia’s sophomore album, 2024’s Odyssey, is a majestic feat. Here, she blends orchestral arrangements with R&B, jazz, broken beat and dub, resulting in a grand, nuanced record that feels airy and celestial without sacrificing the groove. It’s a deeply personal offering about her trek to falling back in love with musical composition.
Source, her 2020 debut album, received massive critical acclaim. Also, it earned an NPR Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, a Pitchfork “Best New Music” review. And a Rolling Stone “Album of the Month” mention. In a profile, the New York Times called Source “a sweeping set of jazz with Afro-Caribbean influences that funnels a life’s worth of experiences into an hourlong listen.” Also upon release, the album entered the UK charts in the Top Thirty. Further, she was just one of three artists selected to perform live at Glastonbury’s 2020 Experience. This aired on the BBC to thousands of viewers.
In 2022, Garcia toured the U.S. in support of Khruangbin, performing in sold-out venues across the country. She then headlined her own tour in the U.K. and U.S., performing at various festivals including Glastonbury and Newport Jazz.
Recommended for fans of Ravi Coltrane, Kamasi Washington, Vijay Iyer and Ezra Collective.
LEARN MORE: https://www.nubyagarcia.com/
📸: Danika Lawrence
- Genre:
- Jazz
