Christ-Stéphane Boizi at Pizza Express Live London

Christ-Stéphane Boizi
PizzaExpress Live
Album launch
London
November 3, 2026

There's an old saying, purportedly from as far back as 1773, that "the Devil has the best tunes." Well, God obviously held some back and sent them to Christ-Stéphane Boizi, bandleader, composer and trombonist, who introduced his gig with a statement that his music was inspired by his deep Christian faith. A brave move for a young man in front of a full London jazz club. The evening featured extended versions of tracks from his debut album As the Spirit Leads (Banger Factory Records, 2026) with slightly different personnel, with Alex Hitchcock stepping in at a day's notice. Boizi's writing showed great versatility with a variety of moods conveyed, journeys taken and emotions triggered.

Boizi began by introducing the band with regulars—Kezia Abuoma at the piano, Jacob Wilson on tenor saxophone, Lauren Breen on alto and Sacha Harlan on drums. They were joined tonight by Ewan Hastie on double bass, and by special guests Hitchcock on tenor and Tristan Bernoud at the vibraphone. The extended ensemble stretched the club's intimate stage to its limits but to great effect. Bernoud's presence throughout the session added depth to the listening experience compared with the album tracks; both in sensitive accompaniment and glistening solos, his contribution was significant.

First up was "Lamentations," which opened with a brooding, cinematic ensemble introduction that led into solos from the frontline horns and piano with hints of the gospel music of the leader's youth. "Raymond" was a meditation on his grandfather—a professed Art Blakey fan—still in Côte d'Ivoire and unable to witness the tune in Soho. It showed respect for an elder and had a lengthy bass intro from Hastie that established a serious tone. This was followed by unison horns presenting a catchy tune before a sparkling piano solo prompted the tune to swing. That mood was happily accepted by the tenor and alto, and finally by the leader's strong solo on trombone, with a clear tone and great expressiveness.

"Grant Us Peace Our Father" was a slower number, inspired by the Lord's Prayer, with extended vibes passages and the introduction of guest Hitchcock with a thoughtful tenor contribution. There were some lively sets of four-bar conversations between Breen and Bernoud to bring the piece to a conclusion. The first half wrapped up with the album title track, "As the Spirit Leads." And the spirit moved through a number of moods from staccato opening ensemble phrases through more melodic solos, which alternated between excitement and calm in expressive writing.

The second set opened with "Golgotha," the most overt reference to Christian faith, as it is the name of the hill where the crucifixion took place. Its slower pace and somber phrasing indicated its inspiration and made for a thoughtful opening to the second half of the evening. "Seeds of Gratitude" also opened slowly, with some excellent harmonies in the ensemble before a series of flowing melodic solos and an inspired alto and tenor duet, propelled by the rhythm section. Once again, Boizi's composition managed to paint vivid images through the evocative, almost cinematic nature of the music.

The fine piano introduction to "The Sustainer of My Faith" led into a funky exploration of the theme with an elegant solo from the leader. Interplay from the two tenors, and then between the vibes and the full band, led into a really swinging conclusion to the concert. Except it wasn't. The now usual "Have we got time for one more?" was met with raucous crowd approval and a reprise of the title track in which Boizi announced that each one of them was just going to play and play. And they did, and it was a delight. The regulars and their guests had gelled over the course of the set, and the band sent everyone out into the cold London air with a sense of hope and elation.

Boizi has only just graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, which makes writing of this range and maturity, with such a melding of genres and influences, all the more remarkable. That he leads a band with such authority is a tribute to the ongoing climate in Britain that produces such a stream of confident, creative jazz musicians able to blend diverse musical styles into evenings of entertainment. In his remarks between songs, Boizi acknowledged the part played in his development by the music charities Kinetika Bloco and Tomorrow's Warriors. May their good work continue. The band tours the UK during November and into January 2027 as part of Tomorrow's Warriors Rise Tour.