Theon Cross
Jazz fused with grime, dub and Caribbean pulse. From Sons of Kemet and Little Simz – here stepping out solo.
Theon Cross is a true sonic innovator. With his genre-bending, bass-heavy approach to the tuba, he’s transformed the instrument into a 21st-century sound system powered by breath. Rooted in diasporic bass culture and African-Caribbean heritage, his playing moves seamlessly between jazz, dub, grime, soca, and Afrobeat – with the tuba as both foundation and frontman.
Using multiphonics, sub-bass pedal tones, and full-spectrum sound, Theon builds his music from rhythm upward, layering tone, melody and texture with striking clarity. His work explores the full sonic potential of the tuba no longer a background instrument, but the pulsing heart of an entire sound world.
Take it from The Times: ”The British jazz musician continues to make the tuba sexy with this spacey, dub-fuelled wig-out”
With albums like FYAH and Intra-I, and collaborations ranging from Sons of Kemet to The Smile, Little Simz, Steamdown, and Makaya McCraven, Cross has become one of the most exciting voices in contemporary jazz. At Fasching, expect a deep, resonant solo performance that pushes the boundaries of breath, bass and groove.