GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter, composer, producer, and bandleader Theo  Croker continues to redefine the possibilities of modern jazz with his new  album, DREAM MANIFEST (Dom Recs / Fat Beats, June 13). Hailed by the LA  Times as “a path to jazz greatness,” Croker’s latest work is an immersive journey  where jazz, experimental hip-hop, and cosmic soul collide — the result of an  artist unbound by genre and led only by creative vision. 

With singles like the high-energy “We Still Wanna Dance” (produced by D’LEAU),  the soul-laced “High Vibrations” (featuring Malaya), and the hypnotic “Crystal  Waterfalls,” Croker shapes a sonic world that is both timeless and of the  moment (Wall Street Journal). His unmistakable air of chill, as NPR notes,  comes from “a clear musical approach and determination” — qualities that have  made him a standout collaborator for artists like Ari Lennox, Common, J. Cole,  Jill Scott, and Wyclef Jean, and a magnetic performer on stages from NPR’s  Tiny Desk to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. 

Croker approaches live performance with the vision of a producer and the  spontaneity of a jazz artist. As DownBeat writes, he “layers music and lyrics with  the deft touch of a hip-hop producer and the spontaneity of a jazz trumpeter.”  From underground clubs to global festival stages, his sets unfold like cinematic  suites — immersive, dynamic, and emotionally tuned to the room. His trumpet  acts as both a melodic voice and a textural force, seamlessly woven into a  production landscape rich with samples, synths, and sound design — all  performed live with his acoustic ensemble. 
As VICE notes, Croker is known for pushing the boundaries of jazz, neo-soul,  and hip-hop, crafting a sound that defies traditional genre classifications.  That expansive approach was on full display in February 2025, when he  premiered Dream Manifest live at London’s iconic Barbican Theatre in  collaboration with designer Nicholas Daley. The Evening Standard called it  “jazz, just not as we know it,” and Jazzwise described it as “a triumph,” praising  Croker’s emotional depth, total stage control, and hinting at “a lot more to come  from this assured bandleader.”