Citrus Sun

Doors 6.30pm | Performance 8pm| Event Calendar CLICK HERE
The Soul Mama Menu offers a delightful blend of African, Caribbean, and South American cuisine. Soul Mama was listed in the “top restaurants to look forward to in 2024 list” by the Evening Standard. Please take a moment to explore our menu.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Citrus Sun

CITRUS SUN is an eight-piece band made up largely of Incognito members. It was born out of Incognito founder and leader Jean-Paul ‘Bluey’ Maunick’s love of soulful Jazz Funk instrumentals and the playing of legendary guitarist Jim Mullen, who he had followed as a teenager. 



Citrus Sun, a band formed in the late 1990s, play music from their latest jazz and soul tribute album, 'Anaconga'. The band is a passion project of Bluey's, known for his work with Incognito.
Citrus Sun is essentially the Incognito rhythm section, featuring Bluey, bassist Francis Hylton, drummer Francesco Mendolia, percussionist João Caetano, and guitarist Jim Mullen, along with various guest artists. 
The band focuses on the instrumental aspects of jazz and soul, honouring classic pieces like Maynard Ferguson's Mister Mellow, Bobby Caldwell's Down for the Third Time, Ronnie Laws' Mystic Brew, and Erykah Badu's Honey, while also introducing new material such as Santiago, Hard Boiled, Expansions & Visions, and In Search of Blues Note. The unifying thread of their music is the influence of New York's rich jazz history and vibrant nightlife.



Bluey says: 

“The purpose of CITRUS SUN was totally selfish because I wanted to work with musicians who were already in my band Incognito, and I also wanted to work with somebody who I was a fan of. I used to go to his gigs and sometimes not even be able to get in because I was too young to be in a pub, so I would just stand outside and listen to Jim Mullen play. 



“There was so much music around London in the 70s when I was growing up. In one evening, you could go and see Gonzalez, just get on your bike and cycle across town and go and see FBI, and then go across town and find a jam session where someone like Jim would be playing. It was always like this every day. 



“So CITRUS SUN is a representation of that journey. Sometimes we’ll be just jamming out, and sometimes we’ll just be looking at one another, like, “Do I change here?” But the true essence of jazz is in this band, in the fact that we allow each other space to be able to shine and be allowed to become the darkened sky that allows the brightness of the sky to shine even more brightly.



” Over the years, CITRUS SUN has performed all over the world. Since their first album, ‘Another Time, Another Space’(2001), the band has produced further albums; ‘People of Tomorrow’(2014), and ‘Ride Like the Wind’(2018) and ‘Expansions and Visions’(2020). They have achieved US Chart successes with tracks “Mais Uma Vez”, “Calling Mr Wolf” and “Hard Boiled”(15 weeks on Billboard Smooth Jazz). 

- +44 20 3930 4000
- General venue inquiries: +44 20 3930 4001

- Located at main reception desk
- Valid photo ID required for pickup
- Available 1 hour before event start time
- Reservation confirmation must be presented

- Gantry Hotel underground parking available
- Validated parking for venue guests
- Limited street parking nearby
- Hourly rate: £15-£25
- Nearest public parking: Royal Victoria Dock car park

- Wheelchair accessible ground floor
- Dedicated accessible restrooms
- Ramp entry available
- Companion seats adjacent to wheelchair spaces
- Advanced reservation recommended for accessibility needs

- Smart casual dress code
- No outside food or beverages
- Valid government-issued ID required for alcohol service
- No smoking inside venue
- Photography permitted with management consent

- Children under 12 must be accompanied by adult
- Family-friendly until 8:00 PM
- No unaccompanied minors after 8:00 PM
- High chairs available
- Children's menu options offered