Returning to Pizza Express to present his second album Times and Tides, acclaimed pianist, composer and arranger John Crawford leads his Quintet in an evening of music influenced by Latin American and Spanish flamenco rhythms, and inspired by music from all the continents. A journey taking the audience through original compositions, and arrangements of tunes by Tom Jobim, Paco de Lucia, Salif Keita, and Pat Metheny among others, the evening also includes music from Crawford's 2012 Independent Music Awards-nominated debut album Ulia River of Time.
Born in London of English/British parents, John Crawford was introduced to blues and South American folk during his childhood. He went on to work with Latin Jazz legends such as Airto Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo, Eumir Deodato, Ed Motta, and Tito Allen to name a few, with appearances at Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Getxo Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the 606 club, and Royal Albert Hall amongst other venues. His collaborations with UK Jazz artists on stage and in the recording studio include: Guida da Palma and Jazzinho, Tina May, Ola Onabule, Jason Yarde, Grupo X (of which he was a founder member) and many more.
This special evening features the talented guests who also appear on the new album: jazz veteran and composer Duncan Lamont Snr on saxophone; red-hot trumpeter Shanti Paul Jayasinha; and husky vocalist Linley Weir. They join the superb instrumentalists at the core of Crawford's Quintet. This is a band formed out of shared musical passions with Latin Jazz as a starting point, particularly with a flamenco influence - hence the acoustic guitar and cajon playing prominent roles from the beginning. For this, the Uruguayans Guille Hill (guitar) and Andres Ticino (percussion) make the perfect partners: two virtuoso musicians who are extremely adept at all South American and Spanish musical styles - equally comfortable playing a Flamenco Buleria by Paco de Lucia, an Argentinian Chacarera, or a Brazilian Samba - coupled with knowledge of jazz to bring improvisation to these styles.
Joining the band on drums is the brilliant Simon Pearson, a Yorkshireman who seems to have Latin Blood in his veins, so well does he play the various rhythms, always with exquisite taste. On bass, the solid and much in demand Richard Sadler’s sound perfectly complements the ensemble.