Justin Thurgur (born 1974) is a British trombonist and composer/arranger.

Biography

He is most well known for his work with the English folk group

Bellowhead Bellowhead is an English contemporary folk band, active from 2004 to 2016, reforming in 2020. The eleven-piece act played traditional dance tunes, folk songs and shanties, with arrangements drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical sty ...

, who he played with from its formation in 2004 until they called it a day in May 2016. Bellowhead were winners of five 'Best Live Act' awards, two 'Best Group' awards and one 'Best Album' award from the

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music, with the aim of raising the profile of folk and acoustic music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British rad ...

. They were Artists in Residence at the

South Bank Centre Southbank Centre is an arts centre in London, England. It is adjacent to the separately owned National Theatre and BFI Southbank. It comprises the three main performance spaces – the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and Purcell Ro ...

from 2007. In 2014, they signed to Island Records for their fifth full album, 'Revival'. Thurgur has been collaborating with the pianist and composer Kishon Khan since 1996. Initially Thurgur joined Khan's Afro-Latin Jazz group 'The Bonobo Orchestra', then in 1999 they formed the Cuban-Funk outfit 'Motimba' together. Currently Thurgur is working with Khan in the pianist's Bangla/Latin/Afro/Jazz project ' Lokkhi Terra' and in Thurgur's Afro-Jazz group. His album for this project 'No Confusion' was released in July 2016 on their label 'Funkiwala', which was also officially launched in July. They have also been working on an album with the Bangladeshi Baul singer Baby Akhtar and on a new project, 'Cubafrobeat', which combines Cuban rhumba with Afro-Beat and features ex-Fela and

Femi Kuti Olufela Olufemi Anikulapo Kuti (born 16 June 1962), popularly known as Femi Kuti, is a Nigerian musician born in London and raised in Lagos. He is the eldest son of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti and a grandchild of political campaigner, women's r ...

pianist/singer Dele Sosimi. Thurgur appeared on a soundtrack of Khan's for the Bangladeshi movie ' The Last Thakur', for which Khan won a Grand Jury award for 'Best Music' at the South Asian International Film Festival in New York. In 2010 Khan and Thurgur went to Cuba to record an album in Egrem Studios with Indian percussionist

Pandit Dinesh Pandit Dinesh (born 29 May 1955) is a music composer and percussionist specializing in Indian rhythms. He uses the tabla, conga drums, and more. Dinesh is known for his collaborations with West India Company, Dizrhythmia, The Pax Trio, and Blanc ...

and various Cuban artists, including Giraldo Piloto, Julito Padron and

Changuito José Luis Quintana (January 18, 1948 – June 6, 2025) was a Cuban percussionist. Biography Changuito was born in 1948 in Casablanca, Cuba.Dele Sosimi Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi (born 22 February 1963) known as Dele Sosimi, is a Nigerian-British musician. Biography Sosimi was born in Hackney, London, England. His career began when he joined Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's Egypt 80 (1979–86). Sosim ...

since 1998, first in the group Gbedu Resurrection and then in Sosimi's Afro-Beat Orchestra. For Sosimi's first two albums and one they did together for the Nigerian poet Ikwunga, Thurgur also acted as co-producer, arranger/composer and recording engineer. Sosimi's fourth album, 'You No Fit Touch Am', was released with Wah Wah 45's in 2015. As a session player, he has worked with Tony Allen, Africa Express (which specifically included work with Allen, Cheick Tidiane-Seck, and Fatoumata Diowara), Tony Kofi, Bukky Leo, Wara, Inemo, The Soothsayers, Osvaldo Chacon, Roberto Pla, The Selector and The Levellers. He was in the band for the

Royal National Theatre The National Theatre (NT), officially the Royal National Theatre and sometimes referred to in international contexts as the National Theatre of Great Britain, is a performing arts venue and associated theatre company located in London, England, ...

production of ' Fela'.

Discography

Solo albums * 'No Confusion' (Funkiwala, 2016) * 'Many Faces' (Funkiwala, 2022) With Lokkhi Terra * 'No Visa Required' (Funkiwala Records, 2008) * 'Che Guava's Rickshaw Diaries' (Funkiwala Records, 2011) * 'London Calling' (Culture Clash Productions, 2012) * 'Bangla Rasta', with Shickor Bangladesh All-Stars (Funkiwala Records, 2016) * 'Introducing Baby Akhtar', with Shickor Bangladesh All-Stars (Funkiwala Records, 2017) * 'Cubafrobeat', with Dele Sosimi (Funkiwala Records, 2018) With

Dele Sosimi Bamidele Olatunbosun Sosimi (born 22 February 1963) known as Dele Sosimi, is a Nigerian-British musician. Biography Sosimi was born in Hackney, London, England. His career began when he joined Fela Anikulapo-Kuti's Egypt 80 (1979–86). Sosim ...

* 'Turbulent Times' (Ekostar Music, 2002) * 'Calabash', with Ikwunga (Rebisi Hut Records, 2004) * 'Identity', (Helico Records, 2007) * 'You No Fit Touch Am', (Wah Wah 45's, 2015) * 'Dibia' with Ikwunga (Rebisi Hut and Dele Sosimi Music Ltd, 2015) With

* 'E.P.Onymous' (Megafone Records, 2004) * '

Burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

' (

Westpark Music Westpark Music is a German record label based in Cologne, best known for publishing albums by Gjallarhorn, Oysterband, Hedningarna, Varttina, Bellowhead, Stockholm Lisboa Project, Chumbawamba, Lydie Auvray, Garmarna and many others. Mainly co ...

, 2006) * ' Matachin' (

Navigator Records Navigator Records is a small independent record label in the United Kingdom, specialising in folk and roots music. It is wholly owned by Proper Music Distribution and was launched in 2008. Musicians who have recorded on Navigator Records incl ...

, 2008) * 'Umbrellowhead' (Megafone Records, 2009) * 'Live at Shepherd's Bush Empire' DVD (Westpark Music, 2009) * '

Hedonism Hedonism is a family of Philosophy, philosophical views that prioritize pleasure. Psychological hedonism is the theory that all human behavior is Motivation, motivated by the desire to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. As a form of Psycholo ...

' (

, 2010) * 'Hedonism Live' DVD (Navigator Records, 2011) * ' Broadside' (

, 2012) * 'Levellers' Greatest Hits', with The Levellers and Bellowhead on the track 'Just the One' (The Fiddle Recordings, 2014) * ' Revival' (Island Records, 2014) * 'Pandemonium – The Essential Bellowhead' (Navigator Records, 2015) * 'Bellowhead Live: The Farewell Tour’ (Navigator Records, 2016) Others * ‘Monkey Vibrations’, with Motimba (Iris Music, 2003) * ‘Afrobeat Visions’ with Bukky Leo and Black Egypt (Mr Bongo, 2005) * ‘Afro-Funky Beats’, with Inemo (Black Mango, 2006) * ‘Leave to Remain’, with Wara (Movimientos Records, 2013)

Biography

Discography

References

External links