Nubya Garcia
Nubya Garcia is a multi-award winning saxophonist and composer who studied under pianist Nikki Yeoh at Camden Music. She was a member of Gary Crosby’s Tomorrow’s Warriors in her late teens, before completing her training at Trinity Laban.
Her debut album SOURCE, released under the iconic Concord Jazz, was received with wide critical acclaim. Following her album release, the London-based jazz player debuted on NPR’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert, coming off the heels of a Pitchfork ‘Best New Music’ honour and a Rolling Stone ‘Album of the Month’ mention. The New York Times described SOURCE as “a life’s worth of experiences in an hour-long listen.” Nubya has been featured in numerous print media worldwide including Mojo, Vogue, and Ebony Magazine.
She won both the Jazz FM and Sky Arts Breakthrough Act of the Year Awards in 2018, and the Jazz FM UK Jazz Act of the Year Award in 2019. She has made a huge impact internationally and in the UK, with her debut album entering the UK charts in the Top 30. She was one of the few live performers selected to perform live at Glastonbury’s 2020 Experience (which aired on the BBC), and appeared as a featured artist on the USA TV entertainment show 'EXTRA’.
In 2021 she won Downbeat’s Critic’s Poll Rising Star Award, Tenor Saxophone; the Parliamentary Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year Award; and the Jazz Journalist Award. SOURCE was also shortlisted for the prestigious 2021 Mercury Prize, one of only 12 albums to be nominated in celebration of the best of UK Music.
In early 2022, Nubya toured the USA in support of the band KHRUANGBIN; performing at sold out venues including Radio City Music Hall in New York, The Ryman in Nashville and The Met in Philadelphia; continuing on to her own headline tour in the UK and USA performing to capacity crowds at festivals including Glastonbury, Love Supreme, Pickathon, Newport Jazz Fest, The Salt Shed in Chicago and more.
As a composer, Garcia’s original music has been placed with Apple TV (Ted Lasso); OWN Network (Cherish The Day); FX TV (Atlanta); EPIC GAMES (Fortnite); and on multiple podcasts (including a theme tune for Anika Noni Rose’s Clio award-winning podcast Being Seen).
In March 2023 Nubya will lead a Brighter Sound residency for emerging artists in Bradford.
