Saxophonist Sean Khan talks about performing at Certain Blacks’ ‘Afro Futures Festival’ alongside ‘The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble’ and special guests this March

Citing the legendary jazz saxophonist and band leader John Coltrane as an inspiration, experimental saxophonist Sean Khan has too inspired others and helped to shape the musical landscape with various albums, showcasing Sean’s versatility as a musician, experimenting with Broken-Beats, Jazz and Brazilian rhythms. His recent endeavour – an album with The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble released in 2024 of the same name delving into the rich tradition of folk music. Due to perform with the ensemble on Thursday 6th March at Rich Mix as part of celebrated organisation Certain Blacks’ Afro Futures Festival, which takes place from Thursday 6th to Sunday 9th March, Sean tells us more about what to expect from his curated set.

How are you feeling ahead of the event?

This project is so close to who I am as a musician and as a person. Like myself—being Caribbean, British, and Irish—the project, and the Festival, there’s a story of mixed-race heritage in modern Britain to tell. At a time we seem to be facing clashing cultures, the project celebrates the creativity that unique identities bring and I’m so grateful to share that story musically. Thinking about Afro Futures has made me think about how the past informs that and how we can tell a cultural timeline—blending traditional folk with modern jazz. I can’t wait.

How did you approach creating the album ‘Sean Khan Presents the Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble’ and assembling the creatives featured?

Projects like these aren’t about putting pieces together, there’s a story here not a jigsaw puzzle; I wanted to reflect that from the start. So when Colm Carty, the Executive Producer, and Dean Rudland, the A&R Director for Acid Jazz Records, approached me about fusing jazz and folk influences—I continued that vision of fusion. We knew Jacqui McShee, Rosie Frater-Taylor, and Laura Kindelan could bring a magic balance. Jacqui, with her trail-blazing legacy that has set a new standard for British folk music with Pentagle, brought a timeless touch to every chord. Rosie and Laura brought the fresh touches, their voices a raw reflection of modern British music serving to support pioneering women across British musical generations.

Why has folk music been a source of inspiration?

It’s the ability to tell such deep, powerful, stories in a simple, raw, fashion that demanded folk influences in the story we were telling. It is also a genre that has shaken away the idea that tradition is constant rather than evolving and able to draw on new inspiration. Jacqui and Pentagle proved that in the 1970s. Their bass player, Danny Thompson, was rooted in the British jazz scene brought a rich, deep, and colourful layer to folk sounds. Terry Cox, on the drums, and guitarists Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, were masters of blending influences into one distinct sound. It wasn’t just folk music that inspired us, it was the Pentagle take on folk too.

Nick Drake is another key inspiration. His rule-breaking melodies and chord progressions had a clear jazz influence brought to his folk music, with the ideas of jazz greats like Pharoah Sanders—a Drake favourite—clearly alive in his music. I was drawn to folk not just by its sounds, but its honesty, its vulnerability, and its transparency. Folk invites listeners into a personal space; MJAFE wants to honour that.

What does it mean to form part of this year’s Afro Futures lineup?

It’s deeply personal. I’ve always been honest about how my own heritage is integral to my work as an artist; I’m so proud to highlight what it means to be Caribbean, British, and Irish—to be one—in 2025 in my own musical way. Britain is beautiful because of its diverse interconnectedness; it always has been. This opportunity to showcase that alongside other artists who reflect the modern cultural identity of Britain is an honour. It’s big—not just for me, but for everyone who sees themselves in the stories we’ll be telling. There’s a certain pressure too. Music is crucial to the dialogues we are having in this country and how we face the reality of an evolving nation. I can’t wait to add to that conversation.

What within your time as an artist have you learned along the way?

The first thing to say is I am still learning. As an artist; yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My music reflects my life and so in each cultural landscape I’ve come across, I’ve found a new voice, a new rhythm. The story of John Coltrane’s music has taught me not just how to define my own but how it’s told—from relentlessly imagining a unique vision to developing a passion in each layer of my music, not just in its whole. The Brazilian culture of music has shown me how simple the complexities can be. That improvisation that runs through that musical landscape, informed by everything from internal emotion to national challenges, all brought together with one simple, raw, passion. Broken-beats have honed my sense of musical freedom and let me find comfort in unashamed vibrancy, all with a guiding structure. Folk music has let me connect with and learn from my Irish heritage. Its visceral stories baked in tradition, fused with its modern pioneers’ push towards modern messages. Music is a common language I’ll never be fluent in. My learning journey has been about blending influences from my life, that of other musicians, and accepting how that journey—its risks and expressions—may never end. I just share the ride I’ve been on so far.

What can audiences expect from the show?

An unforgettable and powerful musical experience. Every song we perform is delivered with a sincerity and passion told by a group of incredibly talented musicians. These are people who will pour their hearts and souls into every note they play and every word they sing. There’s a deep connection we want to foster between audiences and not just us as a group but the music and its energy. Expect to hear some great songs from some great artists coming together to tell a timeless and timely story. What more can you ask for?

What would you like for audiences to take away from the show?

Above all, I want audiences to feel. Moved? Inspired? Our music is a story and, as with every tale, people will take different things away. But a common element will be something that lingers in the heart and mind after the final note is played. I want audiences to remember the energy, the passion, and the joy of our performance—and hopefully to spread the word about what we’re doing and who we are. We want audiences to find themselves in our story and to reflect on that. Music can unite us, but you’ve got to listen to it first…

Interview by Lucy Basaba.

Sean Khan & The Modern Jazz and Folk Ensemble will perform as part of the Afro Futures Festival at Rich Mix on Thursday 6th March. To find out more, visit here…