News
3rd May 2024: Sultan performs a sold-out show at Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Friday evening, in what was a rather rain-sodden Cheltenham, saw a full house happy to be indoors to enjoy the rather sunny Caribbean-infused music from Sultan Stevenson. With fine tight support from double bassist Jacob Gryn and drummer Joel Waters, Stevenson played music from his excellent recent debut album “Faithful One”.
https://londonjazznews.com/2024/05/05/cheltenham-jazz-fest-2024-1-friday-at-the-parabola/
30th April 2024: Sultan and his trio perform live and are interviewed on Radio 3.
Katie Derham interviews Sultan, chatting about the message behind his music: its gospel inflexions, its openness and how it nods to his Caribbean heritage. They also spoke about the success of his debut album, his upbringing through Tomorrow’s Warriors, the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and Guildhall and the ongoing vibrancy of the London jazz scene. There are also live performances from Sultan and his trio.
27th April 2024: Sultan Stevenson takes on the Brick Lane Jazz Festival, performing at Juju’s Bar and Stage.
His trio is already established as an outfit to catch when billed to play live and is being tipped for success on national and international stages. Bringing in listeners from across the country, Sultan has become a prime performer within the London Jazz scene and beyond.
11th-13th April 2024: Sultan and his trio are given a highly coveted showcase slot at jazzahead! in Bremen, Germany.
Among the highlights of the evening, young London piano player Sultan Stevenson is not only known for his musical creativity but also for his self-crafted hats which he wears on every single performance. Hearing him for the first time, I was impressed by his McCoy Tyner touch. It therefore was unsurprising when in the later part of the programme he name-checked the renowned pianist as his main influence.
24th March 2024: Sultan Stevenson + Emile Hinton at Pizza Express Soho for STEINWAY 2-PIANO FESTIVAL.
Sultan Stevenson joins forces with talented contemporary pianist Emile Hinton. They are performing as part of the Steinway 2 piano festival at Pizza Express. Expect a one-off concert which fuses the unique styles of both pianists.
8th- 16th March 2024: Sultan and a couple of other promising artists selected by Jazz Re:freshed to perform at SXSW in Texas.
Jazz re:frshed: ‘Rapidly rising pianist, Sultan Stevenson will be at our SXSW OUTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE. His trio is making waves in the London jazz scene and is set for success on national & international stages.’
15th December 2023: Sultan Stevenson selected to perform at Jazz Ahead 2024 in Germany.
British jazz rising stars (Sultan Stevenson, Matt Carmichael and Mama Terra) have been selected for next year’s Bremen jazz expo, which will also have a focus on jazz from the Netherlands.
The three British Isles artists will be among those performing at the European Showcase night alongside a vibrant range of new bands from France, Finland, Norway and Spain among others, while eight artists from this year’s partner country of the Netherlands will kick the event off with back-to-back performances as part of the Dutch Showcases on the first night. The live music programme is completed with artists on the European Showcases and German Jazz Expo line-ups.
Full article here:https://www.jazzwise.com/news/article/sultan-stevenson-matt-carmichael-and-mama-terra-selected-for-jazzahead-2024-showcases
7th December 2023: Final show of a fantastic year + vinyl launch at Cafe KOKO.
Sultan celebrates a fantastic year with his final show at Cafe KOKO, night put on by CT Sounds. He is joined by regular bassists and friend Jacob Gryn and also joined by Tom Potter on drums. For the first time he will be selling and signing the vinyl edition of ‘Faithful One’ released back in March 2023.
10th November 2023: BBC J to Z live for the opening of the London Jazz Fest 2023.
Jumoké Fashola presents J to Z's annual London Jazz Festival launch party from Pizza Express jazz club in Holborn with live sets from New Orleans legend Big Chief Donald Harrison performing with special guests the Headhunters (one of the great groups in the history of jazz fusion), rising star pianist Sultan Stevenson, in demand trumpeter Poppy Daniels, and soulful vocalist Cherise presented by 1Xtra's CassKidd.
October 23rd 2023: Sultan Stevenson Trio + special guest Denys Baptiste to go on 5 date tour of Ireland.
Sultan Stevenson is reunited with mercury nominated saxophonist Denys Baptiste to perform in Dublin, Kerry, Kildare, Dun Laughaire aswell as a 90 min set at The Cork Jazz Festival. This is the bands first international outing and is sure to be musically exhilarating, many of the shows are already sold out. More info here:
https://www.musicnetwork.ie/whats-on/sultan-stevenson-trio-with-special-guest-denys-baptiste
13th July 2023: Charles Tolliver, Live at The Church of Sound.
Charles Tolliver has played and recorded with McCoy Tyler, Horace Silver, Jackie McLean and Herbie Hancock. The American trumpeter and composer will be playing for two night at The Church of Sound. Sultan Stevenson will be on piano aswell as Tony Kofi on alto saxophone, Darrel Green on drums and Tom Herbert on bass.
4th July 2023: Best newcomer of the year, winner of 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.
Sultan wins his first award for his music, what will hopefully be the first of many. The Parliamentary Jazz Awards are one of the UK’s most contested awards for jazz. Sultan wins in the field of best newcomer of the year. Read full press release here:
https://appjag.org/2023/07/05/recipients-announced-for-2023-parliamentary-jazz-awards/
30th July 2023: Sultan Stevenson Trio at Love Supreme Fest 2023
Sultan brought his trio + Josh Short to the Jazz In The Round stage at Love Supreme Jazz Festival this year. They played Sultan’s compositions, many of which are in his debut album ‘Faithful One’ including ’Safe Passage’ ’To Be Seen’ and the title track itself. The set was full of energy and was loved by the two thousand strong late night audience.
6th April 2023: Denys Baptiste and Josh Short to guest feature alongside Sultan Stevenson Trio as part of UK album tour.
For the 1st time since the recording of ‘Faithful One’ the full personnel from the album will perform live at Pizza Express, Soho. Taking place on the 13th June 2023. TICKETS TO SHOW HERE!
31st March 2023: ‘Faithful One’ SOLD OUT album launch at The Jazz Café.
At his debut headline show at London’s Jazz Café, Stevenson delivered a stunning show celebrating the release of his debut album. The night sold out, it was supported by Oreglo and GW Jazz. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.
21th March 2023: Adam Sieff review of ‘Faithful One’ for London Jazz News.
There’s a real sense of excitement surrounding the release of this debut album from the pianist Sultan Stevenson. The young Londoner has been leading his trio of double bassist Jacob Gryn and drummer Joel Waters and building a reputation with some high profile club and festival dates. READ FULL REVIEW HERE.
26th December 2022: First few dates of the ‘Faithful One’ album tour announced.
Sultan Stevenson trio to embark on a 2 week album tour in May 2023. The tour will include a few dates in London (including The Vortex & The Crypt) but also dates in Birmingham, Manchester, Cambridge and Brighton. Stay tuned for further details. In the meantime you can catch the trio in Stamford on the 13th of May 2023. BUY TICKETS HERE
24th March 2023: ‘Faithful One’ OUT EVERYWHERE TODAY!
Faithful One is an unusually mature album from a musician who is completely aware of his heritage, but also a true original. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE.
7th December 2022: Stephen Graham (Marlbank) review of The Sultan Stevenson Trio at Eastside Jazz Club, Leytonstone.
‘Stevenson who is a fine highly melodic writer who knows how to cater for a riff-groove alchemy spread around the trio was on sparkling form - his customised McCoy Tyner-like approach allied with varied material convincing from the get-go. First set tunes included 'Guilty by Association' and the sprawling 'Free' probably best of all and where the impressive Waters came into his own at the beginning.’ READ MORE
8th December 2022: Whirlwind Recordings signs Sultan Stevenson for his debut release ‘Faithful One’ out 24/03/23.
‘Sultan Stevenson is just twenty-two years old. And yet this debut album, Faithful One, shows vividly the scope of what he can do, together with the promise of much more to come: this fascinating pianist is also the composer of a compelling range of music for trio and quintet…’ READ MORE
3rd July 2022: Sultan Stevenson Trio at Love Supreme Festival, featured in Telegraph review.
‘It broke the surface many times in the set from a trio led by pianist Sultan Stevenson, who, for me, was the real discovery of the day. His way of placing silences and making a simple four-note lick grow into something significant showed an incipient master at work’ READ FULL TELEGRAPH ARTICLE HERE
5th November 2021: Sultan Stevenson Trio at The Vortex review by Stephen Graham.
‘That aside the set displayed plenty of spark and attack with 'Guilty by Association' and 'Free' featuring MacRae also working well. Stevenson is clearly a player with a big future in front of him’ READ MORE
12th October 2021: Sultan Stevenson Trio at opening for Billy Cobham at The Jazz Cafe review by Sebastian Scotney.
‘But the trio did it, and they did it well… What was impressive was the unflashy dramaturgy of their set, their common understanding of level, and the clever use of silence really drew poeple in.’ READ MORE
12th September 2020: Interview with Sussex Jazz Magazine ahead of New Generation Jazz Cinematic Livestream Series.
Pianist Sultan Stevenson spoke to Charlie Anderson ahead of his appearance on New Generation Jazz Cinematic Live Series. READ MORE
Album & Live Show Reviews
London Jazz News: ‘Faithful One’ album launch show review.
Jazz Views: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Blues and soul magazine: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Beat Caffeine: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Dancing about architecture blog: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
London Jazz News: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Simply Jazz Talk Blog: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Marlbank: ‘Faithful One’ album coverage.
Jazz In Europe: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
All About Jazz: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
UK Vibe: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
Marlbank: ‘Faithful One’ album review.
UK Jazz News: Cheltenham Jazz Fest Live Review