El Roi Sultan Stevenson

• 1 Unspeakable Happiness 04:39
• 2 A Region In My Mind 05:08
• 3 Arise 02:01
• 4 My Unbelief 04:18
• 5 Purpose 04:36
• 6 Wisdom 02:41
• 7 I Believe 01:46
• 8 El Roi 04:09
• Total Runtime 29:18

Info for El Roi

El Roi is the new album from Sultan Stevenson, one of the most compelling voices emerging on the UK and European jazz scenes. Known for his ability to seamlessly merge narrative and accessibility, Stevenson’s music captures listeners both within and outside the jazz community. Drawing deep inspiration from legends like McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Kirkland, and Geri Allen, Stevenson’s compositions are an exploration of faith, identity, and the complexities of the human experience. His signature style, rooted in quartal harmony, vamps, pedal points, and modality, is elevated by his natural storytelling ability.

Stevenson’s sound is unmistakably inclusive, with a humble approach that prioritises dramatic interplay within his trio over overly complex musical ideas. His music is captivating and approachable, reflecting his relationship with the Lord and his cultural heritage. Stevenson’s method of creating compositions, often starting with a central motif and building around contrasting melodic ideas, highlights his deep understanding of contrast and narrative in music, resulting in compositions that resonate with a wide range of listeners.

As a performer, Stevenson is quickly becoming a thrilling force in jazz, translating heritage and spirituality into an evolving and relevant sound. With El Roi, he continues the journey he began with his debut album Faithful One, which saw each track serve a unique purpose within a larger conceptual narrative. Stevenson’s keen attention to musician selection, including his regular bandmates Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters, alongside collaborations with figures like Denys Baptiste, speaks to his commitment to both personal and professional growth. His music is not only a reflection of his influences but also of his vision for what modern jazz can communicate to the world today.

Sultan Stevenson is poised to continue making waves in 2024, as he further solidifies his reputation as one of the brightest young stars in jazz, connecting deeply with audiences across Europe and beyond.

Sultan Stevenson, piano
Jacob Gryn, bass
Joel Waters, drums
Josh Short, trumpet, flugelhorn (tracks 1, 2 & 8)
Soweto Kinch, tenor saxophone (tracks 1, 2 & 8)

Sultan Stevenson
is one of the most exciting young jazz musicians in London today. He is a product of both the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and Tomorrow’s Warriors, from a young age under the tuition of renowned jazz musicians such as Julian Joseph, Gary Crosby, Simon Purcell and Robert Mitchell. He has graduated from The Guildhall School of Music, where he studied jazz piano up until 2023.

In 2020 Sultan emerged onto the scene with a rapidly developing artistic voice. He started playing his own music alongside regular bandmates Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters. Jazz Re:freshed, The Jazz Cafe, The Vortex and The EFG London Jazz Festival are just some of the numerous places in which Sultan has wowed audiences. Sultan cites McCoy Tyner, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen and Ahmad Jamal as some of his biggest inspirations.

In 2022 Stevenson recorded his debut album with his trio (Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters) the album also features Josh Short (trumpet) and his mentor Denys Baptiste (tenor saxophone) The album, tipped for success, earned Sultan a signing from Whirlwind Recordings. It was released on March 24th and has received much critical acclaim. Sultan launched his debut album at The Jazz Café on March 31st. The show sold out, it was a celebration of not only Sultan’s music but of young talent within the London jazz scene today. Sultan has been touring the album internationally and has gone on to perform at multiple outstanding venues worldwide.

In March 2023, Sultan went on to win the Parliamentary Jazz Media Award for ‘Best Newcomer’ and is considered one of the brightest stars of his generation.

In 2024, Sultan continues to take the jazz scene by storm. Sultan was hand-selected to perform 2 showcase slots at SXSW in Texas as part of the jazz Re:freshed ‘outernational’ event. Adding to this, Sultan has performed at the jazzahead! Festival in Germany, Brick Lane Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival for a sold-out show and was interviewed live for Radio 3, all in the space of four months.

2024 also took Sultan’s trio (Jacob Gryn on bass and Joel Waters on drums) across Europe. They appeared at Jazz Jantar in Poland, Jambore in Barcelona, Duc De Lombards in Paris and for a 2 night residency at The Birds Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland.

2024 was also a key year in setting up the new release ‘El Roi’ coming out on Edition Records on March 28th with a launch the week after at The Southbank Centre. Following this the trio are set for a European tour at various high profile jazz clubs and festivals. The ‘El Roi’ album tour kicks off with Transition Festival in Ultretch.

This album contains no booklet.