Dr Corey Mwamba (he/they)
“An inspirational creative force in the music, Corey Mwamba is many things to many people.” – London Jazz News
Corey Mwamba is a musician, researcher, presenter, promoter, and educator. He predominantly plays vibraphone; and also plays dulcimer and uses audio processing software. Corey Mwamba is recognised as “a startlingly imaginative vibes soloist” (The Jazzmann) whose distinctive approach is instantly recognisable in any context. His most recent album release, NTH, was hailed as “compelling” (Jazz Journal) and showed evidence that “[in] spite of his retirement from gigging, it sounds as though Mwamba still has ideas and energy to burn.” (Jazzwise).
He is also known for his wide-ranging collaborations, lending his voice and skills to projects with Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, Paul Dunmall, Martin Archer, Xhosa Cole, Nat Birchall, Mat Maneri, Arun Ghosh, Orphy Robinson, Quantic, Cerys Matthews and many more.
Corey Mwamba won a PRSF/Jerwood Foundation Take Five artist development award in 2007; was short-listed for the Innovation category in the BBC Jazz Awards in 2008; and received nominations for “Vibraphone” category in 2026’s DownBeat annual international critics’ polls.
“You sort of feel that Mwamba could turn up in any situation and put things right or make something new for you, depending on need or wish.” – Wire Magazine
“Corey Mwamba introduced a final live set lasting all of five minutes, dense as a neutron star, a super-compressed improvisation presenting in miniature his sense of mystery in sophisticated harmonic nuance, his melodic lyricism and rhythmic swagger, culminating as ever in climactic sheets of virtuosic vibraphone noisemaking.” – London Jazz News
“Corey Mwamba is one of the most interesting and exciting vibraphonists currently working in jazz and improvised music. One might, with justification, call him a musical scientist whose concern is with the creation of edifices in sound.” – All About Jazz