Foyer Jazz

Lewis Kentaro Isaacs is an award-winning British/Japanese vibraphonist, drummer, percussionist and composer-producer whose work spans jazz, classical, electronic and contemporary music. A former student of the Saffron Centre for Young Musicians, Lewis represents the strength of that creative pipeline, now returning as one of its most distinguished alumni. In 2020 he reached the final of BBC Young Musician of the Year, marking him out nationally as a major emerging talent.

At just 22, he has already established himself as an exceptional and versatile musician, performing on some of the UK’s most respected stages including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Soho and Love Supreme Jazz Festival. Lewis is also the permanent drummer with the Dan Forshaw Quartet, bringing rhythmic authority, maturity and musical instinct to major touring and concert platforms across the UK.

His quartet performs a mix of songbook standards, Brazilian repertoire and original compositions that draw together jazz, classical and modern groove-based influences. His writing reflects inspiration from artists such as vibraphonist Simon Moullier, jazz-metal innovator Tigran Hamasyan and gypsy jazz master Biréli Lagrène. Joined by a quartet of long-time collaborators, Lewis is carving out a distinctive contemporary voice for the vibraphone — combining fluid technique, deep groove and fearless improvisation.