Moses Boyd
Moses Boyd is a British jazz drummer, composer, producer, bandleader and former radio host. His debut solo studio album Dark Matter was released in February 2020 and was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize a few months later.
In 2014, Boyd and saxophonist Binker Golding formed the duo Binker & Moses and released three consecutive albums, with accolades including one MOBO Award, two Jazz FM Awards and a Parlimentary Jazz Award. His self-titled jazz band Moses Boyd Exodus, released several mixtapes in the mid-2010s and together have recorded most of Boyd's solo releases. The group consists of Theon Cross, Artie Zaitz, Binker Golding and Nathaniel Cross.
Under his own label, Exodus Records, Boyd made his solo debut with the extended play Absolute Zero in 2017, and followed it up with Displaced Diaspora in 2018. Boyd has additionally collaborated with musicians such as Beyoncé, Little Simz, Lonnie Liston Smith, Zara McFarlane, Obongjayar, Ed Motta, Sons of Kemet, Soweto Kinch, Floating Points, Four Tet and Theon Cross.
Early life
Boyd was born and raised in the district of Catford in south London. He describes himself as a "second generation West Indian" with Dominican descent from his father and Jamaican descent from his mother. He attended Sedgehill School, which was where he began learning drums. Boyd claims that at one point was taught drums by Bobby Worth. In 2016, he graduated from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance with a Bachelor of Music in jazz drums. While at Trinity Laban, he took part of the education program Tomorrow's Warriors.Other ventures
In addition to music, Boyd was a resident host throughout 2019 on BBC Radio 1Xtra.Artistry and reception
Musical style
Boyd is popularly known for blending multiple genres into jazz to create various new sub-genres. He has been noted to perform and write in the styles of nu-jazz, and fusion, additionally incorporating elements of grime, and electronica. Boyd has described his own music as "an extension of black music, the diaspora" which draws influence from afrobeats, soca, reggae, drum and bass and jungle music.Critical reception
Boyd is known as a prominent figure within the modern London jazz scene. He has been described by The Guardian as "a progenitor of the current London jazz scene", and "a poster boy of the London jazz revival."Influences
Boyd has cited Miles Davis and Dizzee Rascal as major influences. Boyd is closely associated with jazz personality and DJ Gilles Peterson, whom he cites as an influence in learning how to "use jazz in club culture".Discography
Studio albums
Collaborative albums
Extended plays
- Absolute Zero
Mixtapes
- Footsteps Of Our Fathers
- Time and Space
Singles
As lead artist
As featured artist
Guest appearances
Songwriting, production and performance credits
Adapted from Discogs, Tidal, and AllMusic.| Year | Album | Artist | Title | Role |
| 2014 | If You Know Her | Zara McFarlane | "Move" | Drummer |
| 2015 | Stories & Rhymes | Jasmine Powers | scope="row" | Drummer |
| 2015 | Aspirations - EP | Theon Cross | scope="row" | Drummer, mixer |
| 2015 | Arise | Zara McFarlane | scope="row" | Composer, percussionist, vocalist |
| 2016 | Tam Tam Tam Reimagined | Sonzeira | "Mãos À Obra"; "Nós Precisamos De Você" and "Nana Nada" | Drummer |
| 2016 | Oscar Jerome | Oscar Jerome | scope="row" | Drummer |
| 2017 | Escapee | Daniel Casimir | scope="row" | Drummer |
| 2017 | Zara McFarlane | "All Africa" | Bassist, producer | |
| 2017 | Nubya's 5ive | Nubya Garcia | "Fly Free"; "Contemplation" and "Free Sun" | Drummer |
| 2017 | Peace Begins Within | Zara McFarlane | "Peace Begins Within" | Arranger |
| 2018 | Your Queen Is a Reptile | Sons of Kemet | "My Queen Is Harriet Tubman"; ""My Queen Is Yaa Asantewaa" and "My Queen Is Albertina Sisulu" | Drummer |
| 2018 | Xover | Blue Lab Beats | "Pineapple" and "Xover" | Composer and producer |
| 2018 | Starting Today | Joe Armon-Jones | "Starting Today"; "Almost Went Too Far"; "Mollison Dub"; "London's Face"; "Ragify" and "Outro " | Drummer |
| 2018 | Where Are Your Branches? | Oscar Jerome, James Massiah | "Smile On A Screen" | Drummer |
| 2018 | Sugar Like Salt | Louis VI | "Black Opus" and "Track 7-ish" | Drummer |
| 2018 | Fyah | Theon Cross | "Panda Village" | Drummer, producer |
| 2019 | The Mage | Greg Foat | "Of My Hands"; "Endless Love" and "The Magic Radish" | Drummer |
| 2019 | Zara McFarlane, Dennis Bovell | "East of the River Nile" | Drummer | |
| 2019 | Kolmar | Max de Wardener | scope="row" | Drummer |
| 2019 | Turn to Clear View | Joe Armon-Jones, Asheber, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Jehst, Obongjayar | "Try To Walk With Me"; "Yellow Dandelion"; "The Leo & Aquarius" and "Self:Love" | Drummer |
| 2019 | Beautiful Vinyl Hunter | Ashley Henry | "Realisations" and "Battle" | Drummer |
| 2019 | Beyoncé, Tierra Whack, Moonchild Sanelly, Nija, Busiswa, Yemi Alade | "My Power" | Producer | |
| 2020 | Symphonie Pacifique | Greg Foat | "Prelude"; "Symphonie Pacifique"; "Undulation"; "Anticipation"; "Mu"; "Yonaguni"; "Island Life"; "Nikinakinu" and "Man Vs. Machine" | Drummer, composer |
| 2020 | Morning Matters | Yazmin Lacey | "Morning Sunrise" and "Lately " | Producer |