The concert is included in the official program of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2026.
The Dream Lives On - Celebrating Michał Urbaniak!
Michał ‘Michael’ Urbaniak remains a Giant in Music. For over half a century, the Polish Music Master composed and performed groundbreaking, intoxicating, advanced and immensely exciting original Music.
In addition, he collaborated with Miles Davis, Marcus Miller, Herbie Hancock, Tomasz Stańko, Urszula Dudziak, Jarek Smietana, Billy Cobham, Mike Stern, Kenny Kirkland, George Benson, Lenny White, Ron Carter…
All Star players and key members of his Urbanator Band come together to celebrate the Life and Music of a maverick, transcendental and original thinker and music creator.
Throughout his Life, Michał was a constant supporter of young and exceptional music talent. The band honours this tradition by introducing Casey Whyte on violin; a brilliant young talent who is mentored and highly lauded by Violin Virtuoso, Nigel Kennedy.
Expect Polish melodies to flow over funk grooves decorated with jazz harmonies and language.
Line up:
Xantoné Blacq - keyboards, vocals
Otto Williams - bass
Troy Miller - drums
Femi Temowo - guitar, vocals
Casey Whyte – violin
Casey Whyte is a 19-year-old jazz and classical violinist and composer, currently in her second year studying jazz at the Royal Academy of Music. She has performed alongside legendary artists including Nigel Kennedy, John McLaughlin, Stephen Keogh, Liane Carroll, Martin Taylor, Robin Nolan, Stochelo and Mozes Rosenberg, Paulus Schäfer, and Gareth Lockrane. She has performed at venues and festivals, including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Jazz Club (Dean Street), Kings Place London, Bimhuis (Amsterdam), La Note Bleue (Monaco), and the Festival Django Reinhardt in Fontainebleau, France. “Casey is the real deal. I first heard her at a masterclass; I was amazed that someone could play a modern jazz language on violin with such a great feel, articulation, intonation, and ideas” – Jerry Bergonzi “Bravo Casey, your performance was fantastic!” – Jean-Luc Ponty
With a career spanning a quarter of a century to date, Xantoné Blacq is a Creative Force whose Music fuses Stevie Wonder’s soulfulness and vocal style with Herbie Hancock’s funky keyboard playing and Quincy Jones’ arranging brilliance. That may explain why he has collaborated with artists including Amy Winehouse, Jason Rebello, Randy Brecker, Emeli Sandé, Lionel Loueke, Mark Ronson, Earth Wind & Fire, Laura Mvula, Jessie J, Nigel Kennedy and more. Xantoné has performed at leading Music events including, The Grammy Awards, Glastonbury, Montreux Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Lollapalooza and in territories as varied as Brazil, China, Germany, The Caribbean, France, South Korea, UK, Indonesia, US and more. “It would be difficult to find a more generous and talented musician than Xantoné Blacq” - Nigel Kennedy.
Troy Miller is a rare talent; a multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and conductor. Troy began drumming professionally when Roy Ayers asked him to join him on tour in 2003. After touring with Ayers, other opportunities with major acts followed, and in 2006 Miller got a call from Amy Winehouse to join her band. He went on to be an integral part of Winehouse’s band for five years. Subsequently, Troy has toured and performed with Chaka Khan, Donna Summer, Laura Mvula, Macy Gray, George Benson and Mark Ronson, to name a few.
Otto Williams is a professional producer, musician and musical director who has performed on stages throughout the world. He has worked professionally within television, theatre and concert arenas. He was educated at the High School of Music and Art, New York, N.Y. (The Fame School), The Jazz Mobile, New York, N.Y. and has worked with the following artists (live performances): Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, Bobby Brown, Amy Winehouse, Sia Furler, Lee Ryan, Jhelisa Anderson, Peter White, Mindi Abair, Marc Antoine, Sarah Jane Morris, Michal Urbaniak, Keziah Jones, Masaki Ueda and (album recordings): Sia Furler, Kalashnekoff, Keziah Jones, Michal Urbaniak, Xantone Blacq, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ bridges, Curlew, Steve Swindle, Masaki Ueda and Fumiaki Miyamoto…
Femi Temowo is a MOBO Award nominated musician who was raised listening to West African pioneers such as Fela Kuti, Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey. Later he discovered the legendary Charlie Parker and classic jazz albums such as Miles Davis’ ‘Kind Of Blue’. Femi’s slick and melodic guitar sound has earned him a place beside many great musicians and artists from across many genres, having played with the likes of – George Benson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Courtney Pine, The Roots, Omar, Roachford, Amy Winehouse, Jason Rebello, Eska Mtungwazi, Soweto Kinch, Terri Walker, Jean Toussaint, Don Blackman, Michal Urbaniak and many more. "One of Europe's finest and most sought-after guitarists" – Time Out Magazine
www.theallstars.co.uk/musicians/otto-williams/
www.conchordmanagement.com/artist-management/troy-miller/
https://www.instagram.com/casey.violin
Video 1 (“Manhattan Dream” - Michał Urbaniak: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJ0OlAEhkhM&list=RDsJ0OlAEhkhM&start_radio=1
Video 2 (“Nirvana”by Michal Urbaniak & Urbanator - Funkin’ for Don Blackman): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGxs276pwe4
Video 3 (Violin JazzFusion by Michal Urbaniak feat. Billy Cobham & Mike Stern): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLhtuOMqO3M&list=RDoLhtuOMqO3M&start_radio=1
