Avers, who turns 80 this year, enchanted audiences at last year's Glastonbury Festival, and that charm has characterised his entire career. After playing crossover jazz in Herbie Mann's band way back in the 1960s, he unveiled his Ubiquity project in 1970, revealing what happens when jazz musicians 'throw a beat' into soul and funk. He went on to help popularise afrobeat with Fela Kuti, then became one of the father figures of the unfolding rare groove and acid jazz movement in the late 1980s, before becoming the godfather of neo soul in the 1990s - regularly collaborating with Erykah Badu. Meanwhile, in the golden age of hip-hop, producers borrowed more samples from his records than from anyone else, while in the live jazz-rap fusion scene he blazed a trail with the blazing rhythms of Guru and The Roots, while even jazz and Latin house music wouldn't be the same without his influence. To this day, major figures on the scene continue to seek him out: he has worked with Tyler, the Creator and is one of Pharell's greatest role models. He also remains a magical live performer in his own right. It is impossible to summarise his work and significance in just a few sentences. Without this ever joyful figure, whose music radiates happiness, the sound of groove jazz would be entirely different. Once in your lifetime, you simply have to hear him play.

Presented by: Müpa Budapest