The brainchild of drummer/producer Chiminyo, NRG is more than just an album, label or event. It’s a concept. Born out of a conversation about the UK Jazz scene (is it really jazz?) Chiminyo concluded that this musical expression is less about ‘jazz’ and more about energy (NRG). 

 

So with this in mind, he set about to explore, celebrate and harness this NRG in its purest form. No labels, no promoters, no industry, no control. Just Chiminyo and members of his musical community exchanging (strictly improvised) NRG with audiences and capturing the spontaneous beauty to be shared with the world. 

 

This second edition, NRG 2, features an all-star line-up (band members of Blue Lab Beats, Ezra Collective, Gary Bartz, Celeste, Nightmares on Wax) and you can really feel the vibrant NRG of the capital pulsating throughout. High octane, trigger finger anthems like ‘The Future’s Ours’ and anti-monarchist chant based ‘Not My King’ are balanced beautifully by tunes like the peaceful, reflective ‘El Flat’  and ‘We Fall’, a slinky, groovy vocal number featuring the silky, husky tones of one of the NRG 2 vocalists, Plumm. It is incredible to think this record is improvised, because each tune comes across as a carefully sculpted master-piece, a clear testament to the incredible musicians on the line-up. 

 

Chiminyo - Drums 

James Mollison - Saxophone

Axel Kaner-Lidstrom - Trumpet

David Mrakpor -  Keys/Bass Guitar

Wonky Logic - Bass Synth/Synthesisers

 

+ featured vocalists

Dunja Botic (Mirrors)

Plumm (We Fall)

Solomon O.B (Changing Shape, Pressure)