Grammy-winning saxophonist Jean Toussaint, renowned for his Jazz Messengers legacy, leads JT5 with original compositions and inventive standards blending swing, blues, funk and groove. Rising pianist Nnamdi Nnachi-Cole adds expressive artistry and fresh energy.

Exciting Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Jean Toussaint, whose blistering technique, lyrical sound and compelling musical vision have earned him international acclaim. Best known for his years with Art Blakey's legendary Jazz Messengers, Jean has built an outstanding career as a composer, bandleader, educator and one of the most respected voices in contemporary jazz.

Jean Toussaint’s “JT5” is his current working band. Their repertoire is mainly made up of Toussaint and other band members originally compositions with some choice standards uniquely rearranged and thrown in for good measure. Led from the front by Toussaint, the band’s style hinges on a mixture of rich swinging, grooving, bluesing and funking situations gleaned from his years of experience starting at his days as a jazz messenger through to today, while exploring different facets of the complete story along the way.

Nnamdi Nnachi-Cole is a pianist with a beautiful flowing integrity of sound; his ballad playing is insightful and mature coupled with an effortless urgency when the music is powerful and fast pace. Trained at the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, Nnamdi is already turning heads and attracting positive waves as one of the newest emerging stars on the London jazz scene.