After more than a decade at the forefront of the international jazz scene, London’s Sons of Kemet played their final U.S. performances before the band’s impending hiatus, which they announced back in June. The group’s last shows in the States were momentous if unceremonious, consisting of two sets at Pickathon in Happy Valley, OR on August 5th and 7th, one of which featured a sit-in by the illustrious Esperanza Spalding, and a set at KEXP50 in Seattle in between on the 6th.
Led by spiritual jazz luminary Shabaka Hutchings on tenor sax and wooden flute, Sons of Kemet formed in 2011 with a lineup featuring Oren Marshall on tuba, Seb Rochford on drums, and Tom Skinner on drums. Theon Cross joined the band on tuba after the release of their debut album Burn, replacing Marshall, and drummer Eddie Hick replaced Rochford after the second.
Sons of Kemet – Pickathon – 8/5/22 – Partial
[Videos: J4LM]
Sons of Kemet earned notoriety with their high-energy performances and unique instrumentation consisting of sax, tuba, and double drums. With two drummers playing full drum sets and tuba supplying all of the low end, their percussion-forward, brass-heavy sound synthesizes Black musical traditions from around the globe, including New Orleans second line and avant-garde jazz, African and Caribbean folk, and Jamaican reggae and dub, with undercurrents of electronic dance music and hip-hop. The band embodies a socially conscious Afrofuturist ethos, with many songs dedicated to Black leaders, visionaries, and ancestors.
Sons of Kemet kicked off their final weekend of U.S. shows with a midnight set on the main stage at Pickathon in Happy Valley, OR. The festival had a diverse lineup of jazz, folk, indie, and hip-hop, so many of the thousands in attendance were experiencing the band for the first time, and few were aware of the set’s significance as one of their last U.S. performances. The band’s ancient melodies, frantic rhythms, and heavy grooves reanimated the late-night crowd. The set was highlighted by “My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu”, one of the band’s most popular songs, and a jaw-dropping tuba solo by Theon Cross.
Sons of Kemet – “My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu” – Pickathon – 8/5/22 – Partial
[Videos: J4LM]
The following day, Sons of Kemet trekked up to Seattle where they played at KEXP50 alongside !!! (CHK CHK CHK), Thao (formerly of Thao and the Get Down Stay Down), Tomo Nakayama, and LIVt. The set was advertised as Sons of Kemet’s “likely last-ever US appearance.” However, the band still had one more set scheduled at Pickathon, where most artists on the bill played two sets over the course of the weekend.
Sons of Kemet’s final U.S. performance before their hiatus took place on a slightly smaller, more intimate stage and at an earlier time than their previous Pickathon set, starting at 9 p.m. The crowd was packed and once again the band’s infectious grooves and impressive musicianship wowed the thousands who were there to witness their final set on the continent, most unknowingly.
Sons of Kemet – Pickathon – 8/7/22 – Partial
[Videos: J4LM]
The high point of the set came when Shabaka Hutchings invited jazz composer, bassist, and singer Esperanza Spalding to the stage. The Portland, OR native joined the band on vocals for a free jam that eventually settled into a groove as they transitioned to the next song of the set. Her vocal improvisation was breathtaking, both as a soloist and especially when she began harmonizing with the sax and tuba melodies. Her sit-in added a special touch to Sons of Kemet’s last U.S. performance and ignited a little hometown pride in the Oregon crowd.
Sons of Kemet, Esperanza Spalding – Pickathon – 8/7/22 – Partial
[Videos: J4LM]
Sons of Kemet is currently finishing their remaining European tour dates. Their last performance before the hiatus is scheduled to take place on August 21st at Pukkelpop Festival in Hasselt, Belgium.
As for the future of the members of Sons of Kemet, Shabaka Hutchings recently released a new solo album, African Culture; Tom Skinner is a member of the Radiohead offshoot The Smile, who released their debut album earlier this year; and Theon Cross will be featured on an upcoming Blue Note compilation dedicated to Thelonius Monk.
Click below to view additional videos of Sons of Kemet at Pickathon. Check out Live For Live Music‘s coverage of Pickathon here.