Afro-Psychedelic Jazz: A Night with Evening In The Universe

An immersive journey through rhythm and sound

Evening In The Universe occupy a musical world entirely their own. Drawing together the exploratory spirit of European jazz, the rhythmic textures of Senegalese percussion and a contemporary approach to effects and sound design, the London-based quintet creates music that feels expansive, hypnotic and constantly alive.

At the heart of the group is an extraordinary three-part percussion section. Sean Quinn’s talking drum and electronic effects meet Saul Eisenberg’s found percussion, created from recycled gas canisters and pieces of metal, alongside the fluid energy of Filippo Galli’s drum kit. Together, they produce an ever-shifting landscape of rhythm that can feel like a bustling marketplace, a procession or a gathering gradually moving towards a collective trance.

Against this rhythmic bedrock, bassist JJ Stillwell and saxophonist Tashomi Balfour weave melodic narratives filled with space, tension and striking interplay. Simple melodies rise through the surrounding movement, cutting through the sound with clarity before being drawn back into the ensemble’s swirling musical universe.

EITU’s performances move effortlessly between quiet contemplation and feverish dance. Freedom and unpredictability are essential to the band’s sound, ensuring that every performance develops its own character and that the musical journey is never experienced in quite the same way twice.

With support from The Isaac Harari Trio

Opening the evening, The Isaac Harari Trio presents an exploratory take on contemporary jazz shaped by influences from across the musical spectrum, including Latin grooves, math rock and progressive metal.

Led by drummer and percussionist Isaac Harari, the trio combines technically intricate compositions with open improvisation and spacious musical interaction. Vibraphonist Lewis Kentaro-Isaacs and bassist Eliot Whitehouse complete an unusual and highly expressive line-up, moving between detailed rhythmic passages, atmospheric textures and spontaneous musical conversation.

About Evening In The Universe

Evening In The Universe is a London-based quintet featuring Tashomi Balfour, Saul Eisenberg, Filippo Galli, Sean Quinn and JJ Stillwell, who acts as the uniting thread of the ensemble.

Reflecting the extraordinary range of cultures and musical traditions found across contemporary London, the group brings together saxophone, electronic wind instrument, double bass, drum kit, talking drum, electronic effects and handmade found percussion.

Rather than settling into one established genre, EITU uses these contrasting instruments and influences to create a distinctive form of Afro-psychedelic jazz: rhythmically intense, melodically thoughtful and rich with atmospheric detail.

Band Line-up

Tashomi Balfour – Saxophone and EWI
JJ Stillwell – Electric bass and double bass
Filippo Galli – Drum kit
Saul Eisenberg – Found percussion
Sean Quinn – Talking drum and effects

About The Isaac Harari Trio

The Isaac Harari Trio was formed to explore drummer and composer Isaac Harari’s distinctive combination of intricate composition, open musical space and improvisation. Completed by bassist Eliot Whitehouse and vibraphonist Lewis Kentaro-Isaacs, the trio brings together three versatile young musicians from London’s contemporary jazz and percussion scenes.

Isaac Harari is a drummer and percussionist whose work moves between jazz, Latin music, classical percussion and contemporary performance. A 2024 graduate of the Royal College of Music, he received first place in the 2024 RCM Percussion Competition and has previously been a BBC Young Musician category finalist, Yamaha Futurebeat regional finalist and Young Drummer of the Year semi-finalist.

Eliot Whitehouse is a double and electric bassist studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. His broad musical experience encompasses jazz and an extensive range of international genres and styles.

Lewis Kentaro-Isaacs is an emerging British vibraphonist known for combining the jazz tradition with virtuosic contemporary percussion technique. He has toured with Geordie Greep and delivered a vibraphone clinic at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, he also performs on drums, orchestral percussion, bass and sousaphone.

Band Line-up

Isaac Harari – Drum kit
Eliot Whitehouse – Electric bass
Lewis Kentaro-Isaacs – Vibraphone