Brand New Heavies

If you’ve ever had the British acid-jazz scene on your radar, you’ll almost certainly have encountered the Brand New Heavies—perhaps as far back as 1990 with the release of their self-titled debut LP, which remains a bona fide classic.

Formed by bassist Andrew Levy, guitarist Simon Bartholomew and drummer Jan Kincaid, the group began jamming purely for fun—and for the funk—in 1985. Their blend of cool grooves and laid-back vibe quickly found an international audience. Wider success arrived when vocalist N’Dea Davenport joined, resulting in the breakthrough album Brother Sister. Although Kincaid and Davenport later moved on, the band has evolved through various line-ups, with Andrew and Simon consistently carrying the torch.

In 2025, the Heavies have been performing across the globe, highlighted by a triumphant, sold-out headlining show at the Royal Albert Hall. Now midway through a European tour, tonight marks the second of two performances at Milan’s legendary Blue Note.

For the past seven years, lead vocals have been handled by the sublime Angela Ricci—an accomplished performer who has worked with Gary Barlow and Rita Ora—and she is a perfect fit for where the band is now.

Sharing the stage with the core trio is a horn section, percussion, drums and keyboards: a seasoned ensemble who clearly know the set inside out. This matters, because what unfolds tonight is far from a typical modern-day gig; it feels, instead, like an extended jam session.

Of course, the big hits—“Sometimes,” “Midnight at the Oasis,” “You Are the Universe,” “Dream on Dreamer”—are delivered faithfully. But Andrew seems determined to push each track into new territory, reshaping arrangements, prompting spontaneous detours and encouraging the band to improvise freely, all while sipping a drink and visibly enjoying himself. At one point, he appears on a mission to make his bass growl and roar, culminating in a three-minute solo that veers from jazz to heavy rock as the rest of the band watches in admiration. Andrew is effortlessly cool—something Simon perhaps doesn’t, or simply can’t, fully emulate, as his own spotlight moments feel slightly more calculated and self-focused. Maybe that’s just my impression, but it all contributes to a set that is absorbing, dynamic and delivered by a group performing at the height of their powers. By the finale, the Blue Note crowd is on its feet.

I can’t give the show a full five stars simply because they didn’t play “Dream Come True,” one of my all-time favourite songs—but like everyone else, I was smiling as the band lined up to take their bow.

With a British tour announced for spring 2026 alongside labelmates Galliano, if you’ve ever had a taste for acid-jazz—or want to discover how these ’90s soul-funk pioneers can still bring the groove—grab some tickets and enjoy the ride.

Setlist
* Have a Good Time
* Never Stop
* Sometimes
* Dream On Dreamer / Midnight at the Oasis
* Back to Love
* B.N.H
* Spend Some Time
* Stay This Way?

Encore
* You Are the Universe