Two exceptional improvising musicians from radically different backgrounds come together for a fascinating collaboration.

South African cellist Abel Selaocoe is redefining the parameters of the cello, moves seamlessly across a plethora of genres and styles, from collaborations with world musicians and beatboxers, to concerto performances and solo classical recitals. Abel combines virtuosic performance with improvisation, singing and body percussion, and has a special ability to highlight the links between Western and non-Western musical traditions.

Abel has appeared as soloist with orchestras including the BBC Philharmonic and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, as well as performing with orchestras across South Africa, including Kwa-Zulu Natal, Johannesburg and Cape Town Philharmonics. He is also the co-founder of world music ensembles Kabantu and Chesaba, and was a participant on Serious’ Take Five talent development programme this year.

Joining him is Austrian musician Bernhard Schimpelsberger, a percussionist who grew up deeply rooted in jazz and Western classical music, but then dedicated years of study in India that shaped his approach to rhythm and music which now draws from a unique palette of percussions from all around the world.

This led him to create the Rhythm Diaries series – a roaming concert series of musical collaborations between Bernhard and local artists in 10 European cities as well as in Cuba. He has also toured around the globe performing with artists such as Anoushka Shankar, Nitin Sawhney, and Susheela Raman.

Abel and Bernhard started making music together in 2018 and toured South Africa earlier this year as part of the prestigious Quartet of Peace tour, and this Kings Place performance will mark the UK debut of this unique collaboration in advance of recording their first release.

The 2019 EFG London Jazz Festival returns to Kings Place this November, along with an illustrious line-up of international artists.

Norwegian iconoclast, Jan Bang, returns with Matt Calvert (Three Trapped Tigers) for a mesmerising musical presentation of Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin, while veteran Cuban violinist Omar Puente teams up with Courtney Pine, Alex Wilson and Dennis Rollins for a special tribute event.

Dan Tepfer brings his Yamaha Disklavier to the Hall One for an extraordinary improvisatory AV show, Natural Machines. Check the website for new announcements.