Cassie Kinoshi

Cassie Kinoshi is a British jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader who leads the group SEED Ensemble, who were nominated for a Mercury Prize award in 2019.

Kinoshi grew up in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and attended Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Composition) as well as Tomorrow's Warriors.[1][2]

Kinoshi formed SEED Ensemble in 2016 as a way of celebrating Britain's diversity, and the group has been praised for its conscious look at British society and culture.[1] SEED Ensemble combine jazz with West African and Caribbean music, and Kinoshi told Vinyl Factory that "It’s important to me that I shine a light on political subject matter which is often disregarded by the masses and highlight what it means to exist as a young Black British citizen today.”[3] Kinoshi is also a member of the Afrobeat group Kokoroko, and the seven piece jazz group Nérija.[1]

In 2019, SEED Ensemble were nominated for a Mercury Prize award for their album Driftglass.[4] Kinoshi told DIY that she "screamed really high pitch and ran around in circles" when she heard about the nomination.[5] The album received an 85% jump in sales as a result of the nomination.[6]

Kinoshi is also a composer who writes for theatre, including the National Theatre (Top Girls), Old Vic Theatre and the London Symphony Orchestra.[7][8][9][10][11]