Tomorrow's Warriors

Tomorrow's Warriors
Founded1991; 33 years ago (1991)
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Key people
Janine Irons
Gary Crosby
Tomorrow's Warriors Trust[1]
Award(s)2017 Parliamentary Jazz Award for Jazz Education;
2021 Impact Award from Jazz FM
Websitetomorrowswarriors.org

Tomorrow's Warriors (TW) is a jazz music education and artist development organisation[2] that was co-founded in 1991 by Janine Irons and Gary Crosby,[3] committed to championing diversity, inclusion and equality across the arts through jazz, with a special focus on "Black musicians, female musicians and those whose financial or other circumstances might lock them out of opportunities to pursue a career in the music industry".[4] Crosby drew inspiration from having been a member of the Jazz Warriors, a London-based group of musicians that in the 1980s showcased many young Black British musicians who went on to achieve international success (among them Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Cleveland Watkiss, Phillip Bent, Orphy Robinson, as well as Crosby himself).[5]

Tomorrow's Warriors, which has a multiracial make-up,[6] provides a platform for young musicians wishing to pursue a career in jazz, and aims "to inspire, foster and grow a vibrant community of artists, audiences and leaders who together will transform the lives of future generations by increasing opportunity, diversity and excellence in and through jazz."[7] Alumni of Tomorrow's Warriors have gone on to win many awards, including the Mercury Prize, given to the Ezra Collective in 2023.

Irons, a former vocalist turned manager and producer, and her partner Crosby also initiated the Dune Records label, drawing on talent from Tomorrow's Warriors, including such graduates of the organisation as Denys Baptiste, J-Life and Soweto Kinch.[6][8]

Tomorrow's Warriors partners with venues, promoters and organisations across the UK to develop audience participation in jazz, with regular live public events.[9]

According to music journalist Richard Williams, "No single organisation has exerted a more profound or beneficial influence on jazz in Britain than Tomorrow's Warriors."[10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Team was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Quinn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Jane Cornwell (22 April 2021). "Tomorrow's Warriors at 30 - the power behind London's jazz revival". Evening Standard.
  4. ^ "About". Tomorrow's Warriors.
  5. ^ "Tomorrow's Warriors", The Real Histories Directory.
  6. ^ a b John Murph, "Do Your Own Thing: The Dune Label", JazzTimes, March 2004.
  7. ^ Our Vision and Mission", Tomorrow's Warriors.
  8. ^ "Record label PR file: Dune Records", The Independent, 31 January 2007.
  9. ^ "Events", Tomorrow's Warriors.]
  10. ^ Williams, Richard (16 September 2023). "Re-Focus". thebluemoment.com. Retrieved 18 September 2023.