Christ-Stéphane Boizi

Christ-Stéphane Boizi is one of the most exciting emerging voices on the contemporary UK jazz scene, gaining increasing recognition for his dynamic live performances. His improvisation, compositional prowess, and distinctive sound are consistently on display, as he steadily makes a name for himself.

Boizi’s trombone playing draws from the deep lineage of trombone masters such as J.J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller, alongside the spiritual influence of gospel music in which he was raised. This grounding reflects a deep connection to his Christian faith, conveying messages of hope and resilience that have become hallmarks of his artistry.

An alumnus of Kinetika Bloco, a London-based youth music charity carnival band where his journey began, Boizi is also a graduate of the Tomorrow’s Warriors Development Programme and is soon to complete his Jazz Performance degree at Trinity Laban. He has been mentored by leading figures in UK jazz, including Andy Grappy, Gary Crosby OBE, and Byron Wallen. These influences have helped shape an artist firmly rooted in the tradition while continuing to push the music forward.

In recent years, Christ-Stéphane has emerged with his sextet, the Christ-Stéphane Boizi Sextet (CS6), featuring some of London’s most exciting young musicians: alto saxophonist Lauren Breen, tenor saxophonist Jacob Wilson, pianist Kezia Abuoma, double bassist Tom Sheen, and drummer Sacha Harlan. The group continues to impress audiences across the country with their deep sense of interplay, expressive energy, and shared ability to be fully present in the moment.

After a busy few years performing regularly on the London circuit, the sextet has appeared at a growing list of venues and festivals, including the Jazz Café, PizzaExpress Soho, The Bear Club (Luton), King’s Place, We Out Here Festival (Somerset), the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, Foyles, and Brick Lane Jazz Festival.

Alongside his work as a bandleader, Christ-Stéphane is increasingly in demand as a sideman and recording artist. He is a core member of pianist, composer, and arranger Emily Tran’s quintet, with whom he has performed extensively in recent years.

His recording credits include appearances on bassist and vocalist Amy Gadiaga’s All Black Everything, as well as releases by Oreglo, including Not Real People and The Whirr. He also features on Magnum Opus by Mark Kavuma and The Banger Factory, further establishing his presence within a new generation of leading UK jazz artists.

He also co-leads the collaborative project Breen and Boizi with alto saxophonist Lauren Breen, exploring a shared musical language rooted in tradition while embracing a contemporary approach. In addition, he is a member of the Louis Allan-Sinclair Quintet and continues to work across a range of projects within London’s thriving jazz scene, building a reputation as a reliable and expressive collaborator in both live and studio settings.

He has become increasingly involved with the Nu Civilisation Orchestra following his time with Tomorrow’s Warriors, performing in a number of major projects. Highlights include appearing as a featured soloist in Mississippi Goddamn – A Celebration of Nina Simone at the Royal Festival Hall (January 2025), performing with Arthur Verocai at the Barbican (June 2024), and appearances at the EFG London Jazz Festival at King’s Place. More recently, he performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Blackbird and the Duke, celebrating Florence Mills and Duke Ellington.

Christ-Stéphane is also a dedicated mentor to younger musicians, recently taking on the role of Bloco Brass Leader at Kinetika Bloco, with a strong commitment to giving back and continuing the philosophy passed on by his mentors.

In early 2026, Christ-Stéphane was announced as the recipient of the Peter Whittingham Jazz Development Award, supported by Help Musicians. He has also been selected as one of three UK musicians to take part in the Tomorrow’s Warriors and Brosella Jazz Festival collaborative programme, Bxl x Ldn Interplay, bringing together artists from London and Brussels for performances across the year. He has additionally curated two jazz radio sets for Jazz FM, broadcast to strong reception.

With a debut release scheduled for late 2026 on Banger Factory Records, the label run by trumpeter, composer and personal mentor to Boizi,  Mark Kavuma, Christ-Stéphane Boizi’s reputation is set to soar.