Guildhall Jazz Festival: Afternoon Showcases

Oskar Jones tenor sax / alto sax / synth, with effect pedals
Oscar Ho double bass
Luke Brueck Seeley drums
Matt Cooper trombone
Diarra Walcott-Ivanhoe keys / synth

Oskar Jones is a London based saxophonist, pianist and composer whose sound seeps deep below superficiality, expressed through contemplative yet lyrical melodies influenced by modal music from an array of musical and cultural sources. In particular, by the intentionality of artists such as John Coltrane and Tigran Hamasyan, and their ability to expertly, and musically, balance complexity with simplicity, as well as Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah’s forward thinking approach to, and concept of, the future of jazz. Having studied jazz saxophone and classical piano from a young age, and continually exploring electronic composition, Oskar unifies these practices within his compositions and improvisation, which explore the emotions that arise from the change experienced in the phenomenon of travelling from one place to another, whether physically or mentally, via the conduit of music. 

He is currently a 2025 London Transport Museum Young Artist and was the receiver of the 2024 Help Musicians Postgraduate Award, and upon graduating from The University of Edinburgh with a 1st Class Hons in Music in 2023, the Bucher-Fraser Scholarship for continued study (The University of Edinburgh), and the 2023 Andrew Grant Bequest Prize for Portfolio of Compositions (The Edinburgh College of Art, Reid School of Music).

Jude Lane piano / composition / arrangement
Joe Tzabar guitar
Jack Devonshire alto sax
Cam Rossi tenor sax
Cubby Howard cello
Alex Bresh bass
Jonah Phillips drums

Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based jazz band. They have played a number of sell-out shows in venues ranging from The Vortex Jazz Club to Hootananny Brixton to Milton Court Concert Hall as a part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. They have also opened for established artists such as Omar, Moses Yoofee Trio, Blue Lab Beats, Ebi Soda, and Rosie Frater-Taylor and have played at renowned festivals like Love Supreme and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Their music, written and arranged by pianist/composer Jude Lane, draws influence from a wide range of genres ranging from jazz and to modern classical music and UK dance music, with a unique instrumentation of: cello, guitar, alto sax, tenor sax and rhythm section.  

After 4 years in the making, Beyond the Blue are releasing their debut album ‘Mentalism’ in January 2026. Each song explores a different ‘mental state’ ranging from chaos, to peace, to melancholy and to happiness. Compositionally, ‘Mentalism’ fuses an eclectic range of Lane’s influences like Charles Mingus, Ravel, Radiohead and UK dance music genres like jungle and breakbeat hardcore, with the band’s signature line up. The first single from the record is due to be released in September 2025. 

“…their sound crosses genres and pushes boundaries whilst retaining their roots in the UK jazz scene.” Voicemag UK (live show review)