Nicola Conte Umoja Live Feat. Zara Mcfarlane

Nicola Conte's Umoja project performs at The Jazz Cafe in London with vocalist Zara McFarlane, bringing a jazz-based sound that draws on 1970s cosmic jazz and African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms.

Nicola Conte works as a DJ, producer, guitarist and bandleader, and describes themselves as a lifelong crate digger with an ear for strong voices. Conte championed Gregory Porter and José James in Europe before either reached a wide audience. Umoja, the project at the centre of this night, takes its name from the Swahili word for unity.

The music draws on the 1970s cosmic jazz and the African and Afro-Caribbean rhythms that fill Conte's record collection, with a touch of Afrobeat. It was recorded live to analogue tape, which gives it the feel of musicians playing together in one room. The material is written to be danced to as well as listened to.

The concert takes place at The Jazz Cafe, a London venue at 5 Parkway that mainly hosts concerts, with jazz at the heart of its programme. Zara McFarlane joins Conte on vocals, bringing the singer's voice from 'Arise'to a shared night of music.