Seymour Nurse (The Bottom End)

Seymour Nurse’s love affair with Jazz started at the age of 5, mainly through Films and TV scores from composers such as Quincy Jones, Ennio Morricone, Henry Mancini, and Burt Bacharach. Seymour started buying mainly Soul and funk 45s at 11 years old, as he would spend his school dinner money on them.

Some people think that it is strange that Seymour was listening to Jazz, Soul, and Funk at such a young age, but he explains, “I came from a Black family, so it was as natural as being brought up on chicken, rice, and peas.”

“I had Herbie Hancock’s “Headhunters” album (specifically for the track “Sly”) at 13, as this tune had an incredible impact on me that motivated me to dig deeper into this kind of Jazz.”

Seymour started going to places that played Jazz at 12 years old, but it was the “Jazzifunk Club” at the Electric Ballroom, (which for Seymour was ‘the greatest club ever’, as well as
“It’s About Time” at The Spot) that inspired him the most.

“I remember walking into that Jazz Room at the Electric Ballroom as a 15 year old, hearing “Veracruz” by Jayme Marques, and being moved in a way that words cannot express.”

Seymour has been dancing to Jazz from the age of 12, and the real high point for him was performing solo with Flora Purim and Airto Moreira at The Barbican, for a special concert celebrating “The Music of Milton Nascimento.”

He has also been Djing for a number of years, and has played at Jazz clubs such as, “It’s About Time” (The Spot), “The Hi-Hat” (Blue Note/Jazz Cafe), “Out To Lunch” (Nottingham), as well as many other gigs, and is currently a host at the enduring “Shiftless Shuffle” session
(East Village).

As a DJ Seymour’s philosophy is:

“Enjoy what you do, but do not take yourself too seriously, for some people in the room will be into what you play, and others will not. We DJs are merely presenting ‘other’ peoples work, so do not get too possessive or egotistical about ‘their’ music. Play the music that you genuinely like, and that which is closest to your heart. This philosophy keeps me grounded.”

Seymour Nurse is currently involved in Jazz Journalism, which has connected him to the artists that have inspired him so much from childhood, such as Flora Purim, George Duke, Baaska and Scavelli, Janet Lawson, Barry Miles, John Klemmer, Byron Morris, Jeff Lorber, and others.
Checkout Seymour’s website thebottomend.co.uk