Review: Nadav Schneerson - Sheva (Kavana Records)

If you were around the Tomorrow's Warriors tent at We Out Here last summer, you may have heard of Alumni Nadav Schneeron and now his debut LP 'Sheva' is with us and don't let the artwork and title lull you into a false sense of relaxation: 'Sheva' is heavy.

Of course, Gilles Peterson has had a very long association with Tomorrow's Warriors from their co-founder and artistic director, Dr. Gary Crosby OBE and lots of alumni but most recently led by Nubya Garcia, Joe Armon-Jones and Ezra Collective.  And I say all this as you can instantly spot that Schneerson's 'Sheva' (meaning 'Seven' in Hebrew) is very much an album of Lonnie Listion Smith/Andy Bey with Middle Eastern leanings with a Ezra Collective edge.

The title track and 'Juju Man' (featuring Afronaut Zu) are particulary impressive whilst 'House Of Pillars' boarders the jazz edge of Batov Records and the interplay between piano and drums (Nadav) on 'Negev' is fantastic and reminds me of Jez Nelson back in the 'Jazz On 3' days (Ed. kids, ask your grand-parents: or the 70s year old Dr. Crosby!) 

So it's a seven piece band, a seven track album and if you get the chance the album launch is at Peckham Levels in London on April 12th - Nadav and his septet will be showcasing new material alongside performing the album in full. Hosting the night will be UK Jazz community pillar DJ Gordon Wedderburn (Jazz FM and more), alongside special guests and DJs until late.

Artist: Nadav Schneerson

Title: Sheva
Release date: 11th April, 2025
Label :Kavana Records
Catalog Number: TBC
Format: Digital / Bandcamp

Drums & Band Leader - Nadav Schneerson
Trumpet & Flugelhorn - Sam Warner
Trombone & Live FX - Will Heaton
Tenor Saxophone - James Akers
Piano & Rhodes - Sultan Stevenson
Double Bass - George Richardson
Oud - Ekin Öykener
Vocals - Afronaut Zu