Jamie Leeming

Jamie Leeming continues to shine as one of London’s most beloved jazz guitarists, a key collaborator to artists like Alfa Mist, Tom Misch and Jas Kayser whose second solo album "Sequent" further impresses his talents as a musician and songwriter.

Celebrated as one of his native city’s busiest session musicians while simultaneously forging a burgeoning solo career is no mean feat, yet Jamie Leeming seems to take this casually in stride. Gaining notoriety through his work on Alfa Mist’s string of cult-classic albums, he then stepped out solo; first in collaboration with pianist Maria Chiara Argirò on "Flow", then in 2022 with his debut album proper in "Resynthesis". Released on Alfa Mist’s Sekito imprint, the record divulged themes of memory through a spellbinding take on the traditional jazz trio format in a widely celebrated endeavour.

"Sequent" is his long-awaited follow up. Across twelve tracks, Jamie explores the nature of change. In part inspired by the I Ching, an ancient text of Chinese divination, he weaves a rich tapestry of sounds inspired by the cyclical patterns and ever evolving sequences of life, loosely annotated by a deep sense of renewal. Themes, passages and motifs make distinct reappearances across its duration, helping to build a sense of familiarity with the material and defined sense of completion at its close.

The album makes a noted departure from its predecessor on several fronts. There’s a grander sense of scope as you listen, an ambition Jamie brings in his will to push the boundaries of his own musicianship and capabilities as a producer. Vintage recording techniques, inspired by albums from Milton Nascimento and Egberto Gismonti, fuse with modern composition practices giving the album a noted edge. The jazz trio format found on Resynthesis also expands here to feature a wider range of instruments, including orchestration.

"Sequent" wouldn’t exist without its various collaborators. Produced in conjunction with Alfa Mist, it features contributions from Laura Misch, Sly5thAve and Kaya Thomas-Dyke (who also painted the album’s beautiful cover art). Each musician adds their distinct flair to the project, a blessing that honours Jamie with a record that sounds distinct. The community support within the jazz tradition plays a crucial role in his musical livelihood, a natural by-product of the vibrant culture of musical exchange from London’s notorious contemporary jazz scene. This plays out effortlessly on "Sequent", and marks the musician as an important voice amongst his contemporaries.