Cambridge Jazz Festival: Mads Mathias & CUJO: A Tribute to Nat King Cole

Cambridge Jazz Festival presents

 

This year marks 100 years since the birth of one of the greatest jazz stars who ever lived –Nat King Cole – often described as ‘the best friend a song ever had’. 

 

The legendary American singer/pianist recorded more than 100 hit songs, starred in films and on Broadway, and hosted his own ground-breaking TV show, until his early death at the age of only 45. 

 

Fortunately he left us with some of the best-loved recordings in jazz and popular music history - a songbook which has been an inspiration to many. One of those influenced by, and carrying the torch for, this legacy is Mads Mathias (‘Denmark’s leading male jazz vocalist” – Politiken), who will be presenting a special concert with Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra to honour and celebrate Nat King Cole’s life and music.

 

Described by Danish publication Gaffa as “an international star in the making”, Mads Mathias' a vocalist/ songwriter and saxophonist, who has captured the hearts of music lovers with his charismatic performances, spirited personality and creative original songs.

 

Mathias has performed in venues across the world from the DR Koncerthuset in Copenhagen and Denmark’s Roskilde Festival to the Forbidden City Concert Hall in Beijing and Santo Scenario, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He has completed two sold-out tours in the UK, including appearances at Cheltenham, Edinburgh, Cambridge and London Jazz Festivals and a run of five shows at Pizza Express, Soho. In August 2017 he performed at the televised 'Swing no End' BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London and he also performed at the 2017 EFG London Jazz Festival 'Jazz Voice' opening gala night at the Royal Festival Hall. He is currently working on his second release and touring in China, Italy, Spain, the UK, Sweden & Denmark.

 

CUJO brings together the top jazz musicians from Cambridge University. They have performed on tours across the UK and internationally and havewon gold awards in UK-wide big band competitions. The 18-strong band have also collaborated with world-famous musicians, composers and arrangers such as Steve Waterman, Soweto Kinch, Mark Nightingale, Trish Clowes and Yazz Ahmed. Their repertoire includesarrangements performed by the leading big bands of today such as Bill Holman, Bob Curnow, NYJO, Bob Florence, and the Lincoln Center and Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestras, alongside the full repertory of standards, swing, funk and classic vocal charts.