Keyboardist Kamaal Williams was born Henry Wu in the deprived London neighborhood of Peckham. The son of a Taiwanese mother and a British father, Wu initially struggled to find his cultural niche. Whereas his parents introduced him to Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Marvin Gaye, it was on the streets of London’s West African and Jamaican communities that he discovered garage and grime. He incorporates all these influences into what is now an impressive body of work. Since 2012, Wu has released many singles and EPs under his birth name. His breakthrough came when he formed the duo Yussef Kamaal with drummer Yussef Dayes in 2016. Wu's most recent album under the name Kamaal Williams is the self-defined spiritual revolution Wu Hen (2020), on which he showcases a mix of jazz, hip-hop, R&B and EDM, described by him as “Wu Funk”. Dayes is also at NN North Sea Jazz this year. Might the two find time for an impromptu reunion?
