Moses Boyd
{{Short description|British jazz musician (born 1991)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Moses Boyd
| image = File:Theon Cross Band INNtöne 14 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Boyd in 2019
| genre = {{hlist|Jazz|nu-jazz|electro jazz|fusion|jazz rock}}
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Binker Golding|Nubya Garcia|Maisha|Theon Cross|Joe Armon-Jones|Sons of Kemet}}
| website = {{URL|mosesboyd.co.uk/}}
| label = {{hlist|class=nowrap|Exodus|Gearbox}}
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|04|30|df=yes}}{{Cite tweet|number=991016593491746819|user=MosesBoyd_|title=Also my bday too. Hows that for coincednce?|author=Moses Boyd|date=30 April 2018}}
| birth_place = Catford, London, England
| occupation = {{hlist|Drummer|composer|record producer|electronic musician|radio host|bandleader}}
| instrument = Drums
| years_active = 2014–present
}}
Moses Boyd (born 30 April 1991) is a British jazz drummer, composer, record producer, bandleader and radio host. His debut solo studio album Dark Matter (2020) was nominated for the 2020 Mercury Prize.
In 2014, Boyd and saxophonist Binker Golding formed the duo Binker & Moses and released three consecutive albums, with accolades including one MOBO Award, two Jazz FM Awards and a Parliamentary Jazz Award. In 2022, Binker & Moses released their fourth album, Feeding the Machine, to critical acclaim.
Boyd's self-titled jazz band Moses Boyd Exodus (also known as the Exodus) released several mixtapes in the mid-2010s and together have recorded most of Boyd's solo releases. The group consists of Theon Cross (tubist), Artie Zaitz (guitarist), Binker Golding (saxophonist) and Nathaniel Cross (trombonist).
Under his own label, Exodus Records, Boyd made his solo debut with the extended play Absolute Zero in 2017, and followed it up with Displaced Diaspora in 2018. He has additionally collaborated with musicians such as Beyoncé, Little Simz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zara McFarlane, Obongjayar, Ed Motta, Sons of Kemet, Soweto Kinch, Floating Points, Four Tet and Theon Cross.
Early life
Boyd was born and raised in the district of Catford in south London.{{Cite web|last=Lewis|first=John|date=21 February 2020|title=Electronic jazz with a distinctly London accent: Dark Matter by Moses Boyd|url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/moses-boyd-dark-matter-123345/|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Uncut|language=en-GB|issn=1368-0722}}{{Cite web|last=Rogers|first=Jude|date=18 July 2020|title=On my radar: Moses Boyd on his cultural highlights|url=http://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/18/on-my-radar-moses-boyd-cultural-highlights-the-upsetter-lee-scratch-perry-shaun-attwood-true-crime-vital-nrg-bellingham-grae-moses-sumney-soul-on-ice-eldridge-cleaver-mix-with-the-masters|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en|issn=1756-3224|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723010139/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/18/on-my-radar-moses-boyd-cultural-highlights-the-upsetter-lee-scratch-perry-shaun-attwood-true-crime-vital-nrg-bellingham-grae-moses-sumney-soul-on-ice-eldridge-cleaver-mix-with-the-masters|archive-date=23 July 2020}}{{cite web|last=Davies|first=Nicola|date=4 April 2018|title=The art of jazz: A conversation with Moses Boyd|url=https://www.dummymag.com/features/the-art-of-jazz-a-conversation-with-moses-boyd/|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Dummy|issn=2567-7594|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200722180510/https://www.dummymag.com/features/the-art-of-jazz-a-conversation-with-moses-boyd/|archive-date=22 July 2020}} He describes himself as a "second-generation West Indian" with Dominican descent from his father and Jamaican descent from his mother.{{Cite web|last=Reed|first=Davy|date=5 September 2018|title=Displaced Diaspora: Moses Boyd is taking UK jazz on new adventures|url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/moses-boyd-interview|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Red Bull|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723184051/https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/moses-boyd-interview|archive-date=23 July 2020}} He attended Sedgehill School, which was where he began learning drums.{{Cite web|last=Kilpatrick|first=Ruth|date=1 March 2020|title=Moses Boyd: Shades of Blue|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/moses-boyd-shades-of-blue-dark-matter|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=The Line of Best Fit|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723195646/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/moses-boyd-shades-of-blue-dark-matter|archive-date=23 July 2020}} Boyd claims that at one point he was taught drums by Bobby Worth.{{Cite web|last=Todd|first=Bella|date=7 April 2017|title=Discover Moses Boyd's passion for percussion|url=https://www.redbull.com/za-en/watch-moses-boyd-perform-an-exclusive-redbull.com-session|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Red Bull|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724065233/https://www.redbull.com/za-en/watch-moses-boyd-perform-an-exclusive-redbull.com-session|archive-date=24 July 2020}} In 2016, he graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with a Bachelor of Music degree in jazz drums.{{Cite web|title=Alumni - Moses Boyd|url=https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-profiles/moses-boyd#:~:text=Awards%20he%20has%20received%20include,Jazz%20Musician%20award%20in%202014.|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723155613/https://www.trinitylaban.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-profiles/moses-boyd#:~:text=Awards%20he%20has%20received%20include,Jazz%20Musician%20award%20in%202014.|archive-date=23 July 2020}} While at Trinity Laban, he took part of the jazz education programme Tomorrow's Warriors.
Other ventures
In addition to music, Boyd was a resident host throughout 2019 on BBC Radio 1Xtra.{{Cite web|last=Bulut|first=Selim|date=21 February 2020|title=Dazed Mix: Moses Boyd|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48065/1/moses-boyd-dark-matter-dazed-mix-interview|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Dazed|language=en|issn=0961-9704|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724070629/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/48065/1/moses-boyd-dark-matter-dazed-mix-interview|archive-date=24 July 2020}}{{Cite web|title=1Xtra Residency - Moses Boyd|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/radio-programme/e/g7y7cf/1xtra-residency/|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Radio Times|language=en|issn=0033-8060|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724065019/https://www.radiotimes.com/radio-programme/e/g7y7cf/1xtra-residency/|archive-date=24 July 2020}} He also performed a few stints filling in for Gilles Peterson on BBC Radio 6 Music in mid 2020.{{Cite web|date=20 August 2020|title=Moses Boyd sits in with Oscar Jerome, Send The Stems and Covco in the Shakedown Mix.|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lshj|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200820082915/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000lshj|archive-date=20 August 2020|access-date=20 August 2020|website=BBC}}
Artistry and reception
= Musical style =
Boyd is popularly known for blending multiple genres into jazz to create various new sub-genres.{{Cite web|last=Williams|first=Phillip|date=4 August 2019|title=A new wave of jazz musicians in the US and UK are blending genres and pushing the sound forward|url=https://www.redbull.com/za-en/best-new-jazz-songs-spotify-playlist|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Red Bull|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724063822/https://www.redbull.com/za-en/best-new-jazz-songs-spotify-playlist|archive-date=24 July 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Hahn|first=Bryan|date=20 February 2020|title=Moses Boyd on the cross-genre wonder of Dark Matter|url=https://www.thefader.com/2020/02/20/moses-boyd-dark-matter-interview|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=The Fader|language=en|issn=1533-5194|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725010856/https://www.thefader.com/2020/02/20/moses-boyd-dark-matter-interview|archive-date=25 July 2020}} He has been noted to perform and write in the styles of nu-jazz,{{Cite web|last=Ottewill|first=Jim|date=13 May 2020|title=Nu-jazz sensation Moses Boyd on intense drums, self-production and tearing up the rulebook|url=https://www.musictech.net/features/interviews/moses-boyd-on-intense-drums-self-production-and-jazzing-up-the-rulebook/|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=MusicTech|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724065012/https://www.musictech.net/features/interviews/moses-boyd-on-intense-drums-self-production-and-jazzing-up-the-rulebook/|archive-date=24 July 2020}} and fusion,{{Cite web|last=Coldicutt|first=Elena Richards|date=20 January 2020|title=Musician Moses Boyd aims to fuse musical genres in his radical take on jazz|url=https://thenorthernquota.org/entertainment/musician-moses-boyd-aims-fuse-musical-genres-his-radical-take-jazz|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=The Northern Quota|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724081517/https://thenorthernquota.org/entertainment/musician-moses-boyd-aims-fuse-musical-genres-his-radical-take-jazz|archive-date=24 July 2020}} additionally incorporating elements of grime,{{Cite web|last=Cliff|first=Aimee|date=3 August 2017|title=U.K. Producer Moses Boyd Blends Jazz With Grime On "Square Up"|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/08/03/moses-boyd-square-up|access-date=24 July 2020|website=The Fader|language=en|issn=1533-5194}}{{Cite news|last1=Hutchinson|first1=Kate|last2=Olmos|first2=Antonio|date=8 April 2018|title=The British jazz explosion: meet the musicians rewriting the rulebook|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/08/british-jazz-invasion-moses-boyd-matthew-halsall-nubya-garcia|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714162255/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/08/british-jazz-invasion-moses-boyd-matthew-halsall-nubya-garcia|archive-date=14 July 2020}} electronica,{{Cite web|last=Monger|first=Timothy|title=Moses Boyd {{!}} Biography & History|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/moses-boyd-mn0003219986/biography|access-date=24 July 2020|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}{{Cite web|date=4 November 2016|title=Binker and Moses — the new sound of London jazz|url=https://www.ft.com/content/a2e60b50-a1e6-11e6-82c3-4351ce86813f|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Financial Times|issn=0307-1766|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724160433/https://www.ft.com/content/a2e60b50-a1e6-11e6-82c3-4351ce86813f|archive-date=24 July 2020}} highlife and broken beat.{{cite web |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/album/moses-boyd-dark-matter-123345/ |title=Moses Boyd – Dark Matter |last=Lewis |first=John |date=21 February 2020 |website=uncut.co.uk |access-date=8 July 2021}} Boyd has described his own music as "an extension of black music, the diaspora" that draws influence from afrobeats, soca, reggae, drum and bass and jungle music.
= Critical reception =
Boyd is known as a prominent figure within the modern London jazz scene.{{Cite web|last=Embley|first=Jochan|date=30 April 2019|title=London's jazz scene: A guide to the best artists and venues|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/music/london-jazz-british-uk-best-artists-venues-ezra-collective-a4127681.html|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Evening Standard|language=en|issn=2041-4404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730033616/https://www.standard.co.uk/go/london/music/london-jazz-british-uk-best-artists-venues-ezra-collective-a4127681.html|archive-date=30 July 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Vinti|first=Mike|title=Moses Boyd: Keep up the pace|url=https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/moses-boyd-keep-pace/|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|website=Crack Magazine|issn=2229-0397|quote=Boyd is best known as one of the leading lights in the new London jazz circuit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724202023/https://crackmagazine.net/article/profiles/moses-boyd-keep-pace/|archive-date=24 July 2020}} He has been described by The Guardian as "a progenitor of the current London jazz scene",{{Cite news|last=Empire|first=Kitty|date=16 February 2020|title=Moses Boyd: Dark Matter review – party-facing solo debut|language=en-GB|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/16/moses-boyd-dark-matter-review-obongjayar-joe-armon-jones|url-status=live|access-date=24 July 2020|issn=0029-7712|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724190112/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/16/moses-boyd-dark-matter-review-obongjayar-joe-armon-jones|archive-date=24 July 2020}} and "a poster boy of the London jazz revival."{{Cite news|last=Kalia|first=Ammar|date=14 February 2020|title=Moses Boyd: Dark Matter review – dancefloor-friendly jazz from UK drummer|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/14/moses-boyd-dark-matter-review|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723201733/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/14/moses-boyd-dark-matter-review|archive-date=23 July 2020}}
= Influences =
Boyd has cited Miles Davis's Kind of Blue and Dizzee Rascal's Boy in Da Corner as major influences. Boyd is closely associated with jazz personality and DJ Gilles Peterson, whom he cites as an influence in learning how to "use jazz in club culture".
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Details ! colspan="4" scope="col" | Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK Jazz Peaks on the UK Jazz and Blues Albums chart:
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SCO |
|---|
| scope="row"| Dark Matter
|
| 2 || 7 || 1 || 52 |
= Collaborative albums =
= Extended plays =
- Absolute Zero (2017){{Cite web|last=Grieve|first=Lola|date=21 May 2019|title=Meet the rising artists radically altering London's jazz scene|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/undefinable-and-unmissable-meet-the-rising-artists-radically-altering-londons-jazz-scene-2490655|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=NME|language=en-GB|issn=0028-6362|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723183608/https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/undefinable-and-unmissable-meet-the-rising-artists-radically-altering-londons-jazz-scene-2490655|archive-date=23 July 2020}}{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Andy|date=10 August 2017|title=Moses Boyd Is An Old Soul At The Forefront of U.K. Jazz|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/moses-boyd-interview|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Bandcamp Daily|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724131909/https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/moses-boyd-interview|archive-date=24 July 2020}}
= Mixtapes =
- Footsteps Of Our Fathers {{Small|(with Moses Boyd Exodus)}} (2015){{Cite web|last=Black|first=James|date=9 September 2014|title=Time, Space and the future of jazz – an interview with Moses Boyd|url=http://chaostheorymusic.co.uk/moses-boyd-interview/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723181753/http://chaostheorymusic.co.uk/moses-boyd-interview/|archive-date=23 July 2020|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Chaos Theory Music|postscript=. "You have a mixtape called ‘Footsteps of Our Fathers’"; "'Time and Space', your most recent mixtape"}}{{Cite web|title=Moses Boyd Exodus - Footsteps Of Our Fathers E.P.|url=https://www.discogs.com/Moses-Boyd-Exodus-Footsteps-Of-Our-Fathers-EP/release/10296681|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Discogs|date=10 February 2015 |language=en}}
- Time and Space {{Small|(with Moses Boyd Exodus)}} (2016){{Cite web|title=Moses Boyd Exodus - Time And Space|url=https://www.discogs.com/Moses-Boyd-Exodus-Time-And-Space/release/10296607|access-date=23 July 2020|website=Discogs|date=27 May 2016 |language=en}}
= Singles =
==As lead artist==
==As featured artist==
= Guest appearances =
= Songwriting, production and performance credits =
Adapted from Discogs, Tidal, and AllMusic.{{Cite web|title=Credits - Moses Boyd|url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/4316913-Moses-Boyd?limit=500&type=Credits&filter_anv=0&page=1|url-status=live|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Discogs|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725233936/https://www.discogs.com/artist/4316913-Moses-Boyd?limit=500&type=Credits&filter_anv=0&page=1|archive-date=25 July 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Credits for Moses Boyd|url=https://listen.tidal.com/credits/7483759?awc=17117_1595621782_a0aa17404675976395bc749f68693f63|url-status=live|access-date=25 July 2020|website=Tidal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725144753/https://listen.tidal.com/credits/7483759|archive-date=25 July 2020}}{{Cite web|title=Moses Boyd {{!}} Credits|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/moses-boyd-mn0003219986/credits|access-date=25 July 2020|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Album ! Artist ! Title(s) ! Role |
|---|
| 2014
|If You Know Her ! scope="row" | "Move" | Drummer |
| rowspan="3" | 2015
|Stories & Rhymes | Jasmine Powers ! scope="row" {{n/a}} | Drummer |
| Aspirations - EP
! scope="row" {{n/a}} | Drummer, mixer |
| Arise
|Zara McFarlane ! scope="row" {{n/a|All tracks}} | Composer, percussionist, vocalist |
| rowspan="2" | 2016
|Tam Tam Tam Reimagined ! scope="row" | "Mãos À Obra"; "Nós Precisamos De Você" and "Nana Nada" | Drummer |
| Oscar Jerome
|Oscar Jerome ! scope="row" {{n/a|All tracks}} | Drummer |
| rowspan="4" |2017
|Escapee ! scope="row" {{n/a}} | Drummer |
| {{n/a}}
|Zara McFarlane ! scope="row" | "All Africa" | Bassist, producer |
| Nubya's 5ive
! scope="row" | "Fly Free"; "Contemplation" and "Free Sun" | Drummer |
| Peace Begins Within
|Zara McFarlane ! scope="row" | "Peace Begins Within" {{small|(both original and reggae versions)}} | Arranger |
| rowspan="6" |2018
! scope="row" | "My Queen Is Harriet Tubman"; ""My Queen Is Yaa Asantewaa" and "My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu" | Drummer |
| Xover
|Blue Lab Beats ! scope="row" | "Pineapple" and "Xover" | Composer and producer |
| Starting Today
! scope="row" | "Starting Today"; "Almost Went Too Far"; "Mollison Dub"; "London's Face"; "Ragify" and "Outro (Forrow)" | Drummer |
| Where Are Your Branches?
|Oscar Jerome, James Massiah ! scope="row" | "Smile On A Screen" | Drummer |
| Sugar Like Salt
|Louis VI ! scope="row" | "Black Opus" and "Track 7-ish" | Drummer |
| Fyah
! scope="row" | "Panda Village" | Drummer, producer |
| rowspan="6" |2019
|The Mage |Greg Foat ! scope="row" | "Of My Hands"; "Endless Love" and "The Magic Radish" | Drummer |
| {{n/a}}
|Zara McFarlane, Dennis Bovell ! scope="row" | "East of the River Nile" {{small|(both original and alt. takes and their respective dub mixes)}} | Drummer |
| Kolmar
! scope="row" {{n/a|All tracks}} | Drummer |
| Turn to Clear View
|Joe Armon-Jones, Asheber, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jehst, Obongjayar ! scope="row" |"Try To Walk With Me"; "Yellow Dandelion"; "The Leo & Aquarius" and "Self:Love" | Drummer |
| Beautiful Vinyl Hunter
! scope="row" | "Realisations" and "Battle" | Drummer |
| The Lion King: The Gift
|Beyoncé, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly, Nija, Busiswa, Yemi Alade ! scope="row" | "My Power" | Producer |
| rowspan="4" | 2020
|Symphonie Pacifique |Greg Foat ! scope="row" |"Prelude"; "Symphonie Pacifique"; "Undulation"; "Anticipation"; "Mu"; "Yonaguni"; "Island Life"; "Nikinakinu" and "Man Vs. Machine" | Drummer, composer |
| let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out
|Yves Tumor, Kelsey Lu, and Kelly Moran ! scope="row" | "let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out" | Drummer, composer |
| As we stand
|Tori Handlsey ! scope="row" {{n/a|All tracks}} | Drummer |
| Morning Matters
|Yazmin Lacey ! scope="row" | "Morning Sunrise" and "Lately (Interlude)" | Producer |
| 2021
|Boxed In ! scope="row" {{n/a|All tracks}} | Drummer |
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
External links
- {{Discogs artist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyd, Moses}}
Category:21st-century British drummers
Category:21st-century English composers
Category:21st-century English male composers
Category:21st-century jazz composers
Category:Alumni of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
Category:BBC Radio 1Xtra presenters
Category:Black British musicians
Category:British male jazz musicians
Category:English jazz composers
Category:English jazz drummers
Category:English people of Dominica descent