Jazz at The Lescar present a unique and intimate performance by British-born, Berlin-based artist Otis Mensah featuring a full band; an electrifying and vivid blend of poetry and sound, exploring the aesthetic fabric of language and cadence to evoke ethereal portraits of the body, family and race, and a sonic practise drawn from a rich lineage of Black musicality.
With music that shows a strong influence from the rhythmic and expressive freedom of jazz, and as the first Poet Laureate of Sheffield, Otis has also published a debut poetry collection ‘Safe Metamorphosis’ and has performed live at Glastonbury Music Festival, We Out Here, Fusion, XJAZZ Festival, and shared stages with the likes of Shabaka Hutchings, Moor Mother, Benjamin Zephaniah and Little Simz.
Otis Mensah’s latest album ‘before the noise my cousin’ released this year features Blu, Speech of Arrested Development and Lando Chill. Hear (and download it!) here.
“A vivid performance ripe with engaging lyricism, sultry and ethereal melody" – EARMILK
Here’s some music, recorded at Berlin’s XJAZZ recently.
Get to know Otis in our interview from our Meet the Locals archive.
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