Tomorrow’s Warriors presents David Kayode

Saxophonist David Kayode’s commanding tenor sound blends blend Yoruba tradition, carnival energy and contemporary jazz into a distinctly London sound that moves bodies and evokes ancestral stories.

A Tomorrow’s Warriors Emerging Artist, mentored by Gary Crosby OBE and Camilla George, David has already performed with the Gary Crosby Sextet in the acclaimed Mingus Moves series, toured internationally with Moses Boyd, and collaborated with artists including Ni Maxine and Osibisa.

Spring 2026 saw the release of his debut EP, Ade Kayode, a set of recordings that were instantly picked up by radio, including JazzFM, BBC3, and One Jazz.

“Some vibrant sounds from an emerging artist I've really enjoyed hearing from Tomorrow's Warriors. Tenor saxophonist David Kayode is developing a really distinctive sound infused with Afrobeat and straight ahead.” Soweto Kinch, ‘Round Midnight, BBC Radio3

“…all of the ingredients to become a genre defying classic” THE VOICE, review of Ade Kayode

This performance is part of Tomorrow’s Warriors’ Warriors Rise initiative, which sees the acclaimed jazz talent development organisation support three emerging Warriors’ artists build a UK tour, securing gigs, and providing tour planning and marketing mentoring.

Warriors Rise is supported by Music Venue Trust and the PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner initiative supported by PPL.

Check out the performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0zwDN5eFWU

About Tomorrow’s Warriors

If you know your UK jazz, then you probably already know Tomorrow's Warriors. For the last 35 years, Tomorrow’s Warriors has played a vital role within its community and the wider music industry and has been credited with literally changing the face of UK jazz.

Free access to Tomorrow’s Warriors artistic programme has proved crucial in nurturing the nascent talent and early careers of so many of the most exciting UK artists currently tearing up the international jazz scene including Mercury Prize 2023 winners Ezra Collective, Moses Boyd, Nubya Garcia, Shabaka Hutchings and Sons of Kemet, ESKA, Jason Yarde, Denys Baptiste, Robert Mitchell, Soweto Kinch, Shirley Tetteh, Byron Wallen, Mark Kavuma, Sultan Stevenson, CHERISE, Donovan Haffner...the list goes on.

Tomorrow’s Warriors offers a pioneering, comprehensive programme of learning and training which champions and supports young Black and female talent and those who come from challenging circumstances that would be a barrier to accessing opportunities to pursue a music career.

“Tomorrow's Warriors occupies a unique and vital space in our cultural landscape. Their work in helping positively shape future generations is of critical importance especially with the tribulations we currently face. Please keep supporting - each one, teach one!” Gilles Peterson