In constant metamorphosis, the London scene is once again enjoying pride of place in the Grande Halle of La Villette, this time with a new revelation – saxophonist Venna and his ever-flexible mixes – alongside a big name: the collective Kokoroko, at the peak of groove.

1/ Venna

Venna’s career so far has mostly been relegated to the shadow of the big names for whom the saxophonist has leveraged his talents as musician and producer, such as Nigerian star Burna Boy and his album Twice as Tall, which won a Grammy Award in 2021. After two EPs, the young London-born artist has finally enjoyed some limelight thanks to his sumptuous first album. Released in autumn 2025, Malik bears the saxophonist’s first name, generously sharing the wealth of all those meetings and experiences he has built up over the years, elegantly performed through a mixture of jazz, bossa nova, soul, and hip-hop. The list of guest artists who lent their voices to these heady tracks – from Jorja Smith and Leon Thomas to American rappers Smino and MIKE – sets the tone of this natural eclecticism.

2/ Kokoroko

As at ease as ever, Kokoroko has proven that there is a life after a hit as popular as “Abusey Junction”, the smooth groove they came out with in 2019. Since then, the London-based octet has forged a solid reputation on stage through warm and welcoming concerts, including two that left their mark on Jazz à la Villette. And their discography does not disappoint, between Could We Be More (2022) – a brass wonder which perfectly balances between the energy of afrobeat and the calm of soul-tinged jazz – and Tuff Times Never Last (2025). On this second album, the group dared to share radiant optimism, offering tighter and more structured writing over a groove that continued to show inspiration from afro-jazz rhythms, for rich tracks in which voices and brass blend together as one. Released in March 2026, the live EP From Metropolis Studios is a perfect example of the group’s striking energy on stage.