Five-time Grammy-winning artist Jacob Collier takes to the stage at Cambridge Corn Exchange this month
Securing a Grammy is by no means an easy feat for any artist, and yet, at the age of just 27, Jacob Collier already has five under his belt. The multi-instrumentalist is famed for having an almost unrivalled level of musicianship, technical virtuosity and creativity, with established artists singing his praises across the globe – and now he’s making his way to Cambridge on his first tour in three years.
Growing up in London, Collier was immersed in music from an early age, singing Bach chorales with his family and experimenting with a variety of instruments, learning the intricacies of harmonisation and developing a comprehensive theoretical knowledge of music that would lay the foundation for his astonishing musical career.
Collier began to upload videos of his original vocal arrangements of well-known hits to YouTube in 2011 and was spotted by American record producer Quincy Jones, leading to the release of a string of acclaimed albums and collaborations with stars such as Coldplay and Stormzy. After working with Collier, Chris Martin said, “he’s more talented than any of us have ever dreamed of being. It’s like hanging out with Mozart or Prince.” While Stormzy praised the artist, saying “he’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before, worked with before, listened to before”.
Embarking on a nine-date tour next month, Collier comes to Cambridge Corn Exchange on 13 June, and will perform hits from his epic back catalogue of mesmerising arrangements of classic tunes, including songs from his latest project, Djesse – a four-volume, 50-song album featuring over two dozen artists and ensembles. He also performs at the O2 Academy Brixton on 15 and 20 June.
You can find out more about this inspiring young musician in the BBC’s recent documentary, Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens, available to watch on iPlayer. To book tickets for the Cambridge show, head to the Corn Exchange’s website.
