Xantone Blacq

His musical career started early when at the age of 3 he would stand on a stool in his church playing congas! As well as church Xantoné was influenced by musicians as varied as Fela Kuti, Michael Jackson and Julie Andrews (“The Sound of Music!”) leading to his free-range approach. Xan’s first releases were Search For The Sun and The Dance which both received critical acclaim and have been featured on 9 compilations albums so far. He has since remixed and recorded for groundbreaking international labels including Warner Music, Compost Records, Trama Records, Loop Recordings and is also a highly sought after feature artist performing on the latest albums of Bruno E, Big Bang, Delgui, Wagon Cookin' and Soul Vigilantes. His latest album To The Heavens And Beyond features guest performances from Master Funkster "Pee Wee" Ellis, Brazilian songstress Patricia Marx, virtuoso Jazz drummer Troy Miller, Indian Classical vocal exponents Unnati and Preeti Dasgupta and Italian Soul siren Manuela Panizzo who add global flavours to his colourful music extravaganza.

Xan has toured Spain playing at 14 venues including The Cartegena Jazz Festival and Guadalajara Festival as well as playing in Brazil, Italy, Holland (most recently at North Sea Jazz Festival) and in the Caribbean at Boubou's World Music Festival. He is equally popular in the UK having played recently at venues including, Jazz Café, Shepherds Bush Empire, Spitz and Vortex. In addition to performances with his band As if he weren’t busy enough, Xan is also touired as a Keyboard Player and Backing Vocalist in Amy Winehouse's band and recently on vocals on Nigel Kennedy’s latest album “Carnivore for the animal”.