Tomorrow’s Warriors announced today that Nu Civilisation Orchestra (NCO) will perform live with the legendary Chaka Khan to close this year’s Meltdown Festival, leading an ambitious concert performing Khan’s 2004 album ‘ClassiKhan’ on its 20th anniversary year, at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 23rd June.

The concert will be the first-ever performance of Chaka Khan’s ‘ClassiKhan’, which is a much-loved album of classic numbers from the great American Songbook, jazz standards as well as seminal movie soundtracks, with tracks such as ‘Hey Big Spender’, ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Stormy Weather’.

Award-winning pianist, composer and musical director Peter Edwards will once again arrange and lead the diverse, innovative and shapeshifting orchestra. ClassiKhan will follow Nu Civilisation Orchestra’s recent triumphant show last April reimagining David Bowie’s iconic album ‘Aladdin Sane’ as part of Southbank Centre’s Aladdin Sane: 50 Years. NCO recently performed ‘Focus’ with celebrated saxophonist and Tomorrow’s Warrior alumna Nubya Garcia, a tribute to Stan Getz’s masterpiece. NCO has also delighted audiences on a number of tours celebrating 50 years of Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’ and Joni Mitchell’s Hejira and Mingus, plus a special performance of Duke Ellington’s The Queen’s Suite, performed at Queen Elizabeth Hall, as part of Southbank Centre’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

Edwards will conduct the 33 piece orchestra which includes Denys Baptiste (tenor sax), Mark Kavuma (trumpet), Becca Toft (Trumpet), Lewis Daniel (alto sax) and more.

Gary Crosby OBE, Founder and Artistic Director of Nu Civilisation Orchestra and Tomorrow’s Warriors, said “We are absolutely delighted to have Nu Civilisation Orchestra share the stage with the inimitable legend Chaka Khan and perform her ClassiKhan album live for the first time ever. It will be a huge honour for the Orchestra to close Chaka Khan’s Meltdown this summer. The show will undoubtedly be a huge milestone in both NCO and Meltdown history! Nu Civilisation Orchestra is Tomorrow’s Warriors’ professional ensemble consisting of multiple, diverse generations of Warrior musicians who have emerged from our free talent development programme. We are endlessly proud of NCO as it continually raises the bar, playing innovative repertoire with the best in the business on the country’s most prestigious stages.”

Peter Edwards, Nu Civilisation Orchestra MD added “I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Chaka Khan for the 2024 Meltdown. She’s a musical icon whose extraordinary voice and music has captivated multiple generations of fans worldwide. ‘ClassiKhan’ is an incredible work and all at Nu Civilisation Orchestra are excited to present this acclaimed album live for the first time.”

The brainchild of Tomorrow’s Warriors co-founder and Artistic Director, Gary Crosby OBE, Nu Civilisation Orchestra (NCO) is ever shifting in size and scale, from a quintet to a 33-piece orchestra, and everything in between. With a vision of bringing genre fluid, socially aware artistic expression to classic repertoire across jazz and popular music, NCO is committed to increasing diverse representation in the orchestra setting, while showcasing exciting, cutting edge and eclectic new arrangements and compositions from some of the most exciting young musicians in the UK today. Peter Edwards is the Musical Director and leader of NCO, which comprises several members, including Edwards himself, who have come through the award-winning Tomorrow’s Warriors Talent Development Programme, which has a focus on supporting musicians from the black community and girls into successful, professional careers in music.

Chaka Khan’s Meltdown will take place this summer Friday 14th June until Sunday 23rd June, with a dynamic and exciting lineup of artists across jazz, R&B, soul and more to reflect the impact and influence of the iconic artist the international global success of her incredible 5 decade career. Chaka Khan is the 29th curator of Meltdown and will be taking to the Royal Festival Hall stage for two very special performances to open and close the festival. Opening the festival on 14th June, Chaka Khan will play a set of hits from her mighty catalogue such as ‘Ain’t Nobody’, ‘I’m Every Woman’ and ‘I Feel For You’.