The in-demand singer-songwriter, a member of Afrobeat collective Kokoroko, has just released his striking solo debutThe UK jazz underground is still on pause, with live music venues remaining closed, but a fixture on that once-bubbling scene is 27-year-old Oscar Jerome. He can be spotted playing as part of London Afrobeat band Kokoroko, with whom he wrote their serene 2019 smash Abusey Junction, which has been streamed a triumphant 60m times, or working alongside Shabaka Hutchings, Moses Boyd and Yussef Dayes.The Norwich-born guitarist, who studied at London’s Trinity Laban (the same conservatoire Fela Kuti attended), is also an accomplished solo artist. Last year he supported LA sax prophet Kamasi Washington on the latter’s UK tour. Yesterday, Jerome released his debut solo album, Breathe Deep, which inhales a broad range of influences: supple Latin-American-influenced soul, dub pioneer Lee Scratch Perry, US jazz bopper Grant Green – and the pastoral imagery of John Keats. Many familiar faces from bands such as Ezra Collective, Sons of Kemet and Maisha crop up as guests. Continue reading...
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/11/one-to-watch-oscar-jerome