Beyond Category & Jeru The Damaja

New London jazz supergroup Beyond Category joins forces with Brooklyn hip-hop icon Jeru the Damaja for a landmark album launch show celebrating the enduring legacy of the great Duke Ellington.

Drawing on Ellington’s signature melodic swing and profound lyricism, this groundbreaking collaboration dissolves the boundaries between hip-hop, jazz and spoken word, creating a truly immersive musical experience. Incorporating rarely heard speeches and interviews that capture Ellington at his most passionate and enigmatic, the ensemble finds rich inspiration for improvisation, blending jazz solos with hip-hop freestyles.

Audiences can expect a seamless mix of reimagined Ellington compositions and original material, where the Duke’s words and music are transformed, expanded and given fresh, electrifying life for a new generation of listeners. This is more than a concert — it’s a bold, genre-defying celebration of one of music’s most legendary voices.

This event will last for approximately 75 minutes without an interval.

About Beyond Category

Beyond Category is a London-based jazz supergroup, uniting some of the UK’s most compelling jazz soloists and bandleaders. Their debut album celebrates the words and music of the legendary Duke Ellington and is being launched at Kings Place as part of the London Jazz Festival, on the Jellymould Jazz imprint. The ensemble features: Alex Garnett (clarinet/sax), Dan Higham (trombone), Pete Horsfall (trumpet), Alec Harper (tenor sax), Matt Skelton (drums), Ferg Ireland (bass), and Will Barry (piano).

About Jeru the Damaja

Jeru the Damaja (Kendrick Jeru Davis) is a true hip-hop icon and a legendary figure in contemporary music. Rising from East New York, he became one of the defining voices of hip-hop’s golden era, known for his sharp lyricism and uncompromising artistry. He gained prominence through collaborations with Gang Starr and legendary producer DJ Premier, and his work appeared on Spike Lee’s Clockers soundtrack and in video games like Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K. Jeru continues performing worldwide, embodying the enduring spirit and influence of authentic hip-hop.

Reviews

‘Just when you thought quality and skill were things of the past, in steps one of the last true MCs — Jeru the Damaja — to save the day.’ The Source Magazine

‘The platonic ideal of a certain kind of golden age hip‑hop’ Rolling Stone Magazine (on Jeru the Damaja)

‘Truly a unique new voice’ Jazz FM (on Pete Horsfall)