Edy Forey

Edy Forey are a 21st century duo based in Edinburg, Scotland whose diverse musical backgrounds result in a sound that melds heady, '70s-inspired rhythm & blues with a sophisticated, exploratory, groove-train take on contemporary jazz. They call their music "urban jazz." Rehearsing, writing, and playing together since 2017, they cut their debut album during the Covid lockdown; they later added a stellar cast of musicians to fill out the songs and got studio king Bob Power to engineer, mix, and master it. Following the October 2023 release of their debut single, "The Fire," they won press accolades across the globe, and followed it with a unique cover of Eden Ahbez's standard "Nature Boy" in January 2024. Culture Today, their first album, appeared in April.

The duo comprises Polish vocalist, lyricist, and producer Edy Szewy and French pianist/keyboardist Guilhem Forey, who sketch out a new stylistic terrain derived from diverse musical backgrounds. Szewy was born in Rzeszów, Poland to a Polish mother and an American father. Her parents split when she was quite young, but her father, after returning to North America, sent her CDs introducing her to vintage American soul, R&B, and hip-hop. She counts Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Phyllis Hyman, Gil Scott-Heron, and Lauryn Hill as primary influences. Her entrance into music making was as a bedsit producer creating sample-based music with a sociopolitical message.

Forey was born in Paris, France, and raised in Nantes. A child prodigy on the piano, he was playing Bach at age three. That said, as a child he found most classical music frightening. His grandfather introduced him to the music of Ray Charles, Les McCann, and Eric Clapton. He took his first jazz piano lessons at age 11. His teacher was so impressed with his chops and grasp of jazz principles that he recruited a bassist and drummer to join in, creating a jam session during that initial lesson. He soaked up the influences of Herbie Hancock, George Duke, and the ensemble sound of Chick Corea's Akoustic Band. By age 16, Forey was leading his own piano trio.

They met after Forey moved to Scotland and landed in Edinburgh while Szewy was a student at the Edinburg College of Art and leading a neo-soul sextet. Forey was hired as a replacement for a gig their keyboardist couldn't make. Their acquaintanceship took some time to develop into a full-time musical partnership given Forey's deep study of both jazz and the gospel organ tradition as evinced by Cory Henry. That said, he couldn't ignore Szewy's irrepressible, disciplined vision and limitless positivity. He opted out of his other musical endeavors to commit to a project with Szewy.

Because they were learning to write together, they wrote in secret in person and over WhatsApp. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, that developed a detailed, fully collaborative approach.

When they were ready to flesh out and record these painstakingly developed songs, they enlisted a cast of high-powered guests: founding Snarky Puppy members Michael League (bass) and Bob Reynolds (saxophones), Sharay Reed of the Funk Apostles, Femi Koleoso of Ezra Collective, and others. Bob Power was brought in to engineer, mix, and master the proceedings and finished album. Their first single, "The Fire," appeared in October 2023 and won critical accolades from music critics and play from dance club DJs. Their cover of Eden Ahbez's jazz standard "Nature Boy" appeared in January 2024. Titled Culture Today, the duo's 11-track full-length appeared in April from So Soul Records.