Marvin Muoneké & Strictly Smokin’ Big Band - Durham Jazz Festival

About

This show brings together one of the rising stars on the UK jazz scene with one of the North East’s most beloved acts. Marvin Muoneké is a vocalist, songwriter, arranger, trumpeter and recording artist with a beautifully rich, deep and smooth voice. Marvin brings classic sounds to modern audiences with charisma, elegance and an unmistakable presence and passion for storytelling through song.

His love for jazz began at age four after hearing Louis Jordan’s ’Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’ in a Tom and Jerry cartoon. As a teen, he immersed himself in the music of early jazz legends like Jelly Roll Morton and Don Redman and his passion for the musical art form flourished, later joining the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 2014 under Mark Armstrong.

Nominated in 2024 at the Boisdale Music Awards for Jazz Artist Of The Year, Marvin has built a fearsome reputation around the South of England and is now regularly seen in major jazz venues in London. He has featured on TV in both The Voice and Britain’s got Talent and has released two albums with a third currently in production.

Hailed by JazzFM as ‘A new vocal sensation in the UK’ and described by Jazzwise as ‘A singing superstar in the making…a big man with a big voice and an even bigger stage presence’, he is a captivating performer, musician and band leader with an assurance that belies his youth.

Strictly Smokin’ Big Band, led by Michael Lamb, is a powerhouse ensemble that prides itself on the versatility of its performance: originally rooted in swing, but also renowned for performing new, original, and contemporary material.

It is the only ensemble of its kind in the North of England and was recently hailed by Jazzwise Magaine as “reinventing the big band.” With “compelling writing, tear-away execution, and a bevy of star guests excelling” (Jazzwise Magazine), the band brings a fresh energy to every stage they play.

Their repertoire spans everything from classic swing to bold, modern compositions, blending tradition with innovation in a way that keeps audiences engaged and excited. Their acclaimed concert programmes—including Harlem ’58, Ella & Ellington, and Time After Time—demonstrate their ability to honour jazz heritage while pushing the genre forward.