Jazz Dynamos

Jazz Dynamos make a welcome return to the Isle of Wight Jazz Weekend with a set that proves jazz can be both sophisticated and wildly entertaining.

This five-piece London band takes the pop soundtrack of the 1970s and 1980s — songs by the likes of Dolly Parton, Wham, Madonna, The Police, A-ha, David Bowie, ELO and the Human League — and reimagines it through the language of jazz, bossa, samba and swing. The result is music that feels instantly familiar, then suddenly surprising: a melody you know taking a left turn into a new groove, a shifted rhythm, or an unexpected time signature.

Led musically by keyboard player and arranger Mark Adelman, Jazz Dynamos have spent the last decade developing a distinctive repertoire that treats classic pop songs with the same inventiveness jazz musicians have long brought to the Great American Songbook. These are not straightforward covers, but clever, affectionate and exuberant reinventions, full of colour, wit and sharp musicianship. At the centre is vocalist and percussionist Lucy Randell, whose energy, versatility and command of the stage give the band its irresistible personality.

Their reputation has been built on sold-out performances at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, Pizza Express Jazz Club and the Royal Albert Hall’s Elgar Room, alongside festival appearances across the UK and Europe, including EFG London Jazz Festival, Henley Festival and Pub in the Park. With Lucy Randell joined by Mark Adelman, Anders Janes on double bass, Dominique Metz on drums, and Stewart Curtis on saxophone, flute and piccolo, Jazz Dynamos promise a lively, polished and hugely enjoyable show — one where nostalgia, surprise and first-class musicianship meet head-on.

Lucy Randell — vocals and percussion
Mark Adelman — keyboard
Anders Janes — double bass
Dominique Metz — drums
Stewart Curtis — saxophone, flute and piccolo