Stratos’ Jazz Jam - 10th Birthday

In Greek, στρατός (stratos) roughly translates to “army” or “host”. It carries with it shadows of meaning for, more predictably, “stratum,” often used in English to describe layers of the atmosphere. Stratos carries a dual, complementary connotation: an expansive sky and grounded, collective strength. Rios shares in the video above that their choice of band name was a shortening of "stratosphere," as this is where they felt they were aiming during their sessions and how it made them feel playing together.

With this in mind, let us take a moment to say on this blog happy tenth anniversary to Grow’s jazz jam house band, Stratos! Led by the Mercury-prize nominated Rio Kai, who can currently be seen on display at V&A East’s The Music is Black exhibition, Stratos consists of the virtuosi Mike De Souza (guitar), Zoe Pascal (drums), and Dom Pusey (saxophones). For the last decade, these four master musicians have been gracing Grow’s stage on a Thursday night, jamming, growing, and in Rio’s words “incubating something special.” 

Since the early years of jazz, jam sessions were not only a place to cut back and relax, but also represented unofficial spaces of training, education, and development. Players young and old would share stages and push each other’s creativity and musical techniques and styles to new heights, in what were called “cutting sessions.” This remains true to this day, and the Grow jazz jam dedicates itself to this tradition of mutual, synergetic growth. Our approach to the jazz jam is simple: leave the ego at the door, and let’s build something unique together. For example, we are proud at Grow to have hosted special month-long jams championing unrepresented jazz musicians, and regularly welcome international stars to share the stage with total beginners. In the words of customer Tim R., “It is amazing that [Grow] has made a jazz jam that is totally devoid of pretension.”   

So on Thursday, June 4 we at Grow celebrated their tin anniversary in fitting style: an extended, late-night jazz extravaganza. The night was started with a set from DJ Chantelle, who was foundational to the collaboration between Stratos and Grow. In 2016, Chantelle convinced Grow’s founding directors, who were looking for a house band, to attend a jazz show across London. They saw Stratos, invited them to Hackney Wick, and Grow’s Thursdays were set. At 19.30, Stratos kicked the live music off with a set of original music and jazz standards, and the atmosphere - the stratum - was set. 

From 21.30, the stage was opened to all performers, and the jam began. Long-time visitors and first-timers alike joined in the music-making, which went long into the night. There were trumpet players, saxophonists, vocalists, drummers, bassists, pianists, and - equally important! - listeners. They all came together from diverse backgrounds and abilities, and all brought one shared ingredient: a curiosity without expectation. 

Grow’s Venue and Experience Manager, Diggs, who moonlights as a jazz musician himself, was on site all day to join the party. “It’s a beautiful thing to share what you have with whomever you know. Jams like this are a wonderful collective happening; a vibrant, dynamic expression of honesty and music. Deep down - in any way, figuratively, literally, metaphorically - Improvisation is the one freedom that we all have access to. To be able to empower a space and a sharing that lets people lean into that is really something. Something’s always happening, anyway; Stratos and jams like this tap into that aspect of music - of jazz, which is a broad church regardless - as a power stronger than itself.”

“It is an amazing thing, to have this space to explore and play regularly,” Rio said in a closing speech. “When things outside are so divided, to come in - leave the ego, leave the mess and stress - and create music together is so needed. Thank you to all the team at Grow [pause for applause] for enabling this space.” Director Jordanna is rightfully proud, stating that “it’s really one of our great success stories.”

Στρατός encapsulates both the past and the future; tradition and innovation. Happy birthday Stratos, evidence of the power of collective artistic expression and consistency, and a proud result of Grow’s creative ethos. Stratos is at Grow every Thursday from 19.30 - 22.30. Bring your instrument, bring your energy, and join the show!