Quick Facts
Biography
Cassie Kinoshi is a British jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader who leads the group SEED Ensemble, who were nominated for a Mercury Prize award in 2019.
Kinoshi grew up in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire and attended Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance (Composition) as well as Tomorrow's Warriors.
Kinoshi formed SEED Ensemble in 2016 as a way of celebrating Britain's diversity, and the group has been praised for its conscious look at British society and culture. SEED Ensemble combine jazz with West African and Caribbean music, and Kinoshi told Vinyl Factory that "It’s important to me that I shine a light on political subject matter which is often disregarded by the masses and highlight what it means to exist as a young Black British citizen today.” Kinoshi is also a member of the Afrobeat group Kokoroko, and the seven piece jazz group Nérija.
In 2019, SEED Ensemble were nominated for a Mercury Prize award for their album Driftglass. Kinoshi told DIY that she "screamed really high pitch and ran around in circles" when she heard about the nomination. The album received an 85% jump in sales as a result of the nomination.
Kinoshi is also a composer who writes for theatre, including the National Theatre (Top Girls), Old Vic Theatre and the London Symphony Orchestra.