London based drummer/producer, Chiminyo released the fifth edition of his NRG series, ‘NRG 5’ on 8th May 2026. Conceived by one of the city’s most forward-thinking musicians, the NRG series extends beyond albums, labels, or events. It represents an evolving idea born from a conversation about the UK jazz scene, and whether the music needs a genre label at all. Chiminyo arrived at a simple conclusion: this music is less about genre and more about energy - NRG.

 

With this in mind, Chiminyo set out to explore, celebrate, and harness NRG in its purest form: no labels, no promoters, no industry, no control. NRG is just Chiminyo and members of his musical community exchanging strictly improvised music with each other and the audience, capturing spontaneous moments as they unfold.

 

The fifth edition of the NRG series features an all-star line-up of some of London’s finest musicians, and a group of friends who have been playing together in different line ups for 15 years!

 

Recorded live at Peckham Levels, ‘NRG 5’ channels the intensity of the intimate urban space, where concrete, sweat, energy, and electricity all bleed into the music - amplifying the collective momentum of the room.

 

For this fifth edition, Chiminyo assembled a formidable lineup of some of the UK’s most distinctive and forward-thinking musicians. Kaidi Akinnibi leads on saxophone with fierce precision and melodic imagination, while Oscar Jerome’s fluid guitar blurs the lines between soul, jazz, and psychedelia. Charlie Stacey’s synth patches take the record to a new dimension, while Rudi Creswick anchors the experience with his heavy, sub-rattling bass and bass synth, firing off playful samples from his Akai and constantly pushing the music into new territory. Alongside them Magnus Mehta’s percussion weaves around Chiminyo’s drums, expanding the rhythmic language into something dense, kinetic, and unpredictable.

 

The result is a record that feels intense and deeply rooted in human connection. With music that constantly moves, breaks down, and pulls itself back together as it goes, it's hard to believe NRG 5 is completely improvised. Each track feels focused and deliberate - capturing a group of musicians operating in real time, balancing spontaneity with a strong sense of purpose.

 

At its core, NRG 5 is a snapshot of a moment - a room full of people, sound bouncing off concrete walls, and energy moving freely between performers and audience. Nothing repeated. Nothing diluted. Just NRG.

 

Biography:

Celebrated as "one of the real hidden forces in UK jazz" over recent years, Chiminyo combines the raw, immediate live sound of percussion and the futuristic timbres of his electronic productions to create music consisting of improvised groove and spontaneous energy. As well as his own solo projects, Chiminyo performs and records with some of the leading figures of London’s music scene, including spiritual jazz-leaning outfit Maisha, psychedelic energy bomb Cykada, and synth-laden, groove machine Uniri.

 

Chiminyo is a regular performer at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club hosting many of their Late Late Electronic nights, and has collaborated and recorded with the likes of Gary Bartz, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings, Theon Cross, and Zara McFarlane. Critically acclaimed by the likes of Gilles Peterson, BBC 1Xtra, and Jazz FM, Chiminyo won the Jazz FM Digital Award 2020 whilst the track ‘Kandy Lanx’ from his debut EP was nominated for a 2020 Worldwide FM Award.

 

NRG 5 Personnel:

Chiminyo - Drums

Kaidi Akinnibi - Saxophone

Oscar Jerome - Guitar

Charlie Stacey - Keys, Synths

Rudi Creswick - Bass, Bass Synth, Sampler

Magnus Mehta - Percussion

*Sunshine The Afrooist - Vocals (Sacred)