Afro- and Brazilian jazz meet dub, free improv and spiritual jazz-rock in a sonorous clash of universal sound

‘Rapid-fire guitar work with variety and energy’ – The Guardian

‘Phil Dawson and his quartet are really smoking at the mo. Miss them at your peril’ – Russ Jones (Future World Funk)

‘A great guitarist’ – Tony Allen

Phil is known for his work with iconic artists like Hugh Masekela, Tony Allen, Mulatu Astatke, Khaled and Osibisa as well as genre-busting London bands like Lokkhi Terra, Cubafrobeat, Saravah Soul, Soothsayers, roots artists like Dele Sosimi and Cornel Campbell, and a host of Brit-jazz projects.

His live band has featured some exciting players from the London scene like Brazilian Matheus Nova (Antonio Forcione, Ed Motta, Saravah Soul, Jazzinho),  Nim Sadot (Harvey Mason, Tony Lakatos, Snowboy) or Tom Mason (Goldie, Robert Mitchell) on bass; another Brazilian, Marius Rodrigues (Da Lata, Adriana Vasques, Monica Vasconcelos etc), Saleem Raman or Gaspar Sena on drums; the unique Maurizio Ravalico (Collocutor, Dele Sosimi, Jamiroquai, Afroshock etc) on percussion, and often Rowland Sutherland (Airto Moreira, David Murray, plus many ensembles of his own) on flutes. Rowland’s virtuosic flute textures and lines together with Maurizio’s self-designed sonic universe and openness to free exploration, push the quintet to more spontaneous musical territory, Afro-Brazilian interpretations of Coltrane, homages to percussion masters from Tony Williams to Guy Warren, and reconstructions of Bowie and Beatles songs as well as afrocentric original tunes are all typically included in the band’s live set. They are sometimes heard in collaboration with spoken word poet Khadijatou Doyneh (who has co-written material on both of the LPs so far) and with the highly creative Brazilian vocalist Carolina Lelis.