Theo Croker brings DREAM MANIFEST to Barbican with Ego Ella May, Corto.Alto and Theon Cross

Rising US trumpeter Theo Croker and his DREAM MANIFEST project that appears on Saturday 15 February 2025, for an intriguing evening co-curated by acclaimed fashion designer Nicholas Daley. Bringing together Croker’s burgeoning exploration of samples and soundscapes with his talented band of Idris Frederick (keys), Eric Wheeler (bass), and Miguel Marcel Russell (drums) the show will combine style and a range of special guests including London stars such as singer-songwriter who Ego Ella May, Sons of Kemet/solo tuba star Theon Cross, South-East London songwriter and producer Coby Sey, trumpeter Kokoroko Sheila Maurice-Grey as well as Mercury nominated Glasgow band corto.alto led by trombonist Liam Shortall and New York drummer/solo artist Kassa Overall.

All will combine on music from Croker’s albums BLK2LIFE : A Future Past (Star People Nation, 2021) and Love Quantum (Star People Nation, 2022). Designer Daley’s outfits will ensure all the performers are sharply dressed.

DREAM MANIFEST also sees Croker add the role of DJ to his palette (in addition to the trumpet), performing and manipulating samples from the albums and reassembling elements of the band’s real-time performance to architect a sonic world live on stage.

This concert is part of the Barbican’s upcoming jazz concerts that include

• London Symphony Orchestra: Christmas Swing with Frank Dupree (Wed 18 & Thur 19 Dec 2025, Barbican Hall, 7pm)
• Theo Croker’s DREAM MANIFEST (Sat 15 Feb 2025, Barbican Hall, 8pm)
• Maria Schneider + Oslo Jazz Ensemble (Sun 2 Mar 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• Jazz at Lincoln Centre x London Symphony Orchestra (Sat 15 Mar 2025, Barbican Hall, 7pm)
• Jazz at Lincoln Centre & Wynton Marsalis: The Democracy! Suite (Sun 16 Mar 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)
• Lizz Wright (Tues 18 Mar 2025, Barbican Hall, 8pm)
• Cassie Kinoshi x Ensemble intercontemporain (Sat 3 May 2025, Barbican Hall, 7.30pm)

 For more info visit www.barbican.org.uk