An evening of pioneering jazz celebrating 20 years of Serious' Take Five programme. Featuring a world premiere of newly commissioned work from two revolutionary voices of British Jazz. 

Camilla George’s cultural roots and love of fusing African and Western music have shaped her distinctive style - making her a key figure in the new London jazz scene. With a musical background that began with playing in calypso bands to practicing his classical repertoire over hip hop beats, multi-instrumentalist Shabaka unveils brand new compositions alongside Camilla George. Accompanied by an ensemble of past Take Five alumni, the performance will be under the musical direction of acclaimed composer and current Take Five Musical Director Jason Yarde, and will also include a specially selected piece by renowned saxophonist and composer John Surman, who served as the programme’s Musical Director from 2005 to 2017.

Lulu Manning, Xhosa Cole, Claire Victoria Roberts and Connor McAuley open the evening with Poesis. An exploration of interconnection, borders and language as thresholds. Featuring live soundscapes, reimagined traditional folk songs, improvised melodies and manipulated voices, the performance blurs the lines between past and present, place and perception.

This concert is presented by Serious in partnership with the Barbican, with support from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, and Cockayne Grants for the Arts, through the Serious Trust.

Take Five is a UK-wide talent development programme designed specifically for mid-career jazz artists. Created by Serious 20 years ago, it fills a critical gap in the artist pipeline - offering time, space and support for musicians at a pivotal point in their careers. At the heart of Take Five is a week-long creative residency in the countryside, where artists come together to share ideas, explore new approaches, and collaborate with musicians they have often never met. It is an environment that encourages experimentation, confidence-building, and long-term connection across the UK jazz scene.

Your support has made this journey possible and as we look ahead to the next 20 years, we’re inviting you to be part of the future of UK jazz! 

Donate today and help us empower the next generation of jazz talent for the next 20 years and beyond or purchase our VIP supporter ticket which includes a donation to Take Five, as well as access to the best seats in the house and an invitation to join the Take Five community in raising a glass of champagne at a pre-concert reception. The total cost is £100 (plus booking fee) which includes £35 for the face-value of the ticket plus a £65 donation towards Take Five.