Theon Cross approaches the tuba not as a supporting instrument, but as a central voice. Emerging from London’s contemporary jazz scene, he has developed a way of playing that redefines its role, using breath, rhythm, and tone to shape complete sonic environments. His music draws from jazz as well as bass-driven traditions such as reggae, grime, and Afro-Caribbean styles. Rather than separating these influences, Cross brings them together by focusing on low-end energy and repetition. The tuba becomes both foundation and lead, moving between groove, texture, and melody.

As a former member of Sons of Kemet and a collaborator across different scenes, Cross has built a language that is grounded yet expansive. His compositions often begin with rhythm and gradually open into broader, layered forms. Live, his performances feel physical and direct. The sound is carried through the body as much as through the ear. At Jazz Middelheim, Cross represents a strand of contemporary jazz that connects deeply to sound system culture, where bass, movement, and collective experience take centre stage.