Doors 7:45 PM, Music 8:30 PM – 2 set(s) of music
Line-up:
Mike De Souza – Guitar
Tom Barford – Tenor saxophone
Rick Simpson – Piano
Huw V Williams – Double bass
Jay Davis – Drum kit
About
Guitarist Mike De Souza presents the launch of his new EP Schism, recorded at Fish Factory Studios in summer 2024 with the support of crowdfunding donations. The EP features four tracks – three new original compositions and a solo guitar version of Body and Soul, interpreted through De Souza’s distinctive approach to harmony, texture and technique. This marks his first released rendition of a jazz standard and reflects a deepening connection with the jazz tradition, both through the presence of swing grooves and the focus on acoustic interaction within the group.
The title Schism refers to the opening track and reflects De Souza’s sense of the divided state of global politics, where contrasting sets of worldviews and values stand in stark opposition while vying for power and influence in a volatile landscape. Musically, Schism extends the sound of his previous release Chrysalis (Fresh Sound New Talent), which received —- reviews from All About Jazz, UK Vibe, Marlbank and The Jazz Mann, and was praised for its “considered sound design… every bar seems to open into a new world” (BBC Radio 3). While Chrysalis explored transformation through layered textures and electronic soundscapes, Schism takes a more direct and rhythmically driven approach, balancing composed structures with open improvisation.
De Souza is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music and Leeds College of Music. Since establishing himself on the UK jazz scene he has performed widely as both leader and sideman, and has released several projects including Slow Burn, Road Fork and the quartet album Pond Life with Big Bad Wolf, which was ranked 3rd in Jazzwise Magazine’s “Top 10 Albums of the Year” in 2017. He has also collaborated with Byron Wallen, Alex Paxton, Phil Meadows, Joy Ellis, Belle Chen and Twospeak, and holds a weekly residency at Grow in Hackney Wick with the band Stratos. Mike is also a jazz guitar tutor at Leeds Conservatoire, where he has taught since 2020.
International performances include Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Donau115 (Berlin), Jazz Juniors (Krakow), Jazzwerkstatt (Graz), Radar Festival (Varna) and the Ni CaJazz! and EGA Jazz Festivals in northern Spain. De Souza was also a finalist in the 2021 Jarek Śmietana International Jazz Guitar Competition in Krakow.
Schism represents the next stage in De Souza’s development as a composer and guitarist, showcasing a group whose long-term collaboration allows for both precision and openness. The EP captures a band at a creative high point, expanding its sound while nodding more explicitly to the jazz tradition. It will be followed by a full-length album drawn from the same session, due for release next year.