The Brand New Heavies

Pioneers of the London Acid Jazz scene, The Brand New Heavies, are a British music institution whose unique mix of jazz, funk and soul has lit up the UK music scene forwell over two decades. Over the years The Brand New Heavies have been responsible for some of the UK’s biggest R & B/ soul tracks, scoring 16 top 40 singles including Dream On Dreamer and You’ve Got A Friend, as well as over two million album sales.

Ever present founder members Jan Kincaid, Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy (on drums/keyboards, guitar and bass respectively) conceived the band in the London suburb of Ealing in 1985, and they became influential in creating what became known as the acid jazz scene of the early 90’s.
The band released Brand New Heavies in 1990, with the emphasis on instrumental rather than vocal material. After that they linked with American
singer N’Dea Davenport, and the band’s first golden period was about to begin. Their eponymous debut album, re-issued with Davenport’s vocals, took off around the world in 1992. 
The Heavies then took a stylistic left turn and came up with Heavy Rhyme Experience: Vol. 1, joining forces with a number of popular rappers including Main Source, Gang Starr, Grand Puba and the Pharcyde.
Two years later came the album many fans still consider their peak. Brother Sister included the hits Dream On Dreamer, Back To Love and Spend Some Time and soared all the way to Number 4 in the UK chart, turning platinum in the process.
Davenport’s departure in 1994 to complete a long-delayed solo album. Their next vocal collaborator was Siedah Garrett, a long-time associate of Quincy Jones, who had recently recorded and toured with Michael Jackson. As part of the band, Garrett helped propel the next album, Shelter, to No. 5.
Good friend Carleen Anderson of Young Disciples fame, picked up where Garrett left off soon afterwards, happily contributing to Trunk Funk – The Best of The Brand New Heavies.
After a short hiatus the group re-emerged in 2006 with a new album called Get Used To It, prompting esteemed US trade paper Billboard to proclaim Davenport ‘one of the seven wonders of the world… she doesn’t just sing lyrics…she inhabits them.’
2013 sees the release their new album Forward. Davenport features on several tracks on this album with new British vocalist, Dawn Joseph taking up the baton on several tracks also, alongside Kincaid on vocals and some of their signature funkfilled instrumentals.

On the tour they present tracks from Forward, but also make sure the fans get the hits!  

Collaborators:
Dawn Joseph - lead vocal
Andrew Levy - bass
Jan Kincaid - drums
Simon Bartholomew - guitar
Matt Steele - keys
Dan Carpenter - trumpet
Jim Hunt - sax
Lily Gonzales - BVs / percussion

The Brand New Heavies feat. N'Dea Davenport "Sunlight" official music video from "Forward!" 

The Brand New Heavies - Dream On Dreamer