Live review: Theo Croker – Dream Manifest at the Barbican

Trumpeter Theo Croker takes to the Barbican’s stage with an easy confidence for his biggest London show to date. The gig is a one-off collaboration with fashion designer Nicholas Daley – who has Croker, his band and collaborators looking sharp in his signature threads.

From the off, every detail has been considered. It isn’t just about how things sound that matters tonight – but how they look too. Psychedelic projections form a visual backdrop for a set that predominantly mines his last two albums, BLK2LIFE: A Future Past and Love Quantum, while offering a glimpse of his next record.

Opener ‘Amen Waters’, gives the band a chance to flex its collective musical muscles before the numerous guests join the party. The rhythm section, consisting of long-term bassist Eric Wheeler and drummer Miguel Marcel-Russell give Croker’s compositions real thrust and forward momentum. On keys Idris Frederick is a perfect sonic foil for the laid-back but assured trumpet style of the main man.

Croker fires off samples and electronic touches that add a real versatility to his sound. He is after all a musician, who while rooted in jazz reaches beyond its confines. This is a theme that runs through ‘Jazz is Dead’ – which gets a storming outing that sees him rapping alongside long-term collaborator and fellow genre traveller Kassa Overall. He makes multiple appearances, not only on mic duty, but stepping up to the drum stool for a fiery rendition of the early Croker number ‘the Fundamentals’.

Croker’s vision is bolstered by the skill, style and breadth of the guest contributions. Frequent collaborator Ego Ella May appeared on stage with him for the first time, lending her characterful and highly soulful vocals to ‘Theo Says’ and ‘Somethin’’.

The calm but captivating Coby Sey adds his hushed but impactful singing style across a couple of numbers, while singer-songwriter anaiis complements an exuberant Kassa Overall who returns to MC duties for ‘One Pillow’.

The element of the show that adds a real compliment to familiar Croker compositions is however, the addition of a three person brass section. Deep bassy rumbling tuba is provided by Theon Cross of Sons of Kemet and solo fame, while Kokoroko’s Sheila Maurice-Grey joins on trumpet and flugelhorn and multi-instrumentalist Corto.Alto on the trombone.  

The night is a triumph for Croker, his band and collaborators. From the running order to the visuals and reinterpretations of familiar tracks – it is a perfect exploration of the varied and captivating sonic world that he inhabits. Not even a technical glitch can throw this kaleidoscopic show off course. He manages the larger stage with ease, hinting that there’s a lot more to come from this assured bandleader very soon.