Trinidad-born poet, novelist, academic and musician, Anthony Joseph, performs music from his critically-acclaimed recent album, ‘The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives’, alongside his all-star band led by Jason Yarde at this special EFG London Jazz Festival show.

Anthony Joseph is an award-winning Trinidad-born poet, novelist, academic and musician. The author of four poetry collections and three novels – his 2018 novel Kitch: A Fictional Biography of a Calypso Icon was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and longlisted for the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. His most recent publication is the experimental novel The Frequency of Magic, released in 2019 when he was also awarded a Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship.

Since 2006 he has released eight critically acclaimed albums and has collaborated with, among others, Archie Shepp, Shabaka Hutchings and Meshell Ndegeocello who produced his 2014 album Time. In 2018 he curated the Windrush Celebration in the Festival collaborating with Jason Yarde on compositions. His most recent release is the 2021 album is The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives which he will be preforming with his all-star band led by Jason Yarde at EFG London Jazz Festival.

‘Backed by veteran jazz musicians and newer players, the Trinidad-born, London-based poet summons spirits of the Caribbean diaspora to ask what it might take to build a better world.’ Pitchfork (from their 8.0 review – read here)

Personnel:

Anthony Joseph - vocals
Jason Yarde - Alto & Soprano Saxophones
Denys Baptiste - Tenor Saxophone & Bass Clarinet
Colin Webster - Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Andrew John - Bass
Thibaut Remy - Guitar
Rod Youngs - Drums