The Exu
mjf @ First Street (HOME Stage)
Personnel and instrument(s) – James Mainwaring saxophone / Dave Kane double bass / Emil Karlsen drums
mjf partners with Jazz North to present a showcase of the latest northern artists to be selected for the groundbreaking touring programme Northern Line.
Named after a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting and inspired by the artists’ multi-faceted stylistic approach, The Exu is known for its raw, expressive, and dynamic qualities, blending street art with neo-expressionism to create bold, thought-provoking work.
The Exu makes layered, intense, creative and beautiful genre-fluid improvised music. The trio brazenly draws its musical influences from the worlds of free jazz, grunge, death metal, hip hop, bebop, and experimental music.
“We are the sum of our record collections, the films we have seen, the books we have read. It all goes into the mix to make our music,” explains Dave Kane.
Kane and Mainwaring share the compositional duties while young Norwegian drummer Emil Karlsen brings versatile, intricate textures and groove. Mainwaring (of Mercury Prize-nominated Roller Trio) blends fiery and sensitive saxophone approaches with a playful edge, while double bassist Kane ignites each performance with cathartic, heartfelt energy that lingers long after the final note.
Date: sunday 18 may
Time: 4:45 pm - 5:30 pm
Time: 6:15 pm - 7:00 pm
Price: Free
