International Jazz Masters Series

Perico Sambeat Quartet featuring Danny Grisset

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Last Show: Friday 9 th June 2023

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Two nights of inspiring music from a group lead by the fantastic alto saxophone star Perico Sambeat - considered one of Europe's most important Jazz musicians, and featuring outstanding USA piano star Danny Grissett. The world-class bass and drums of Mark Hodgson and Stephen complete this truly exciting quartet packed with talent. Perico appears on over one hundred recordings, many of which he is the leader. His work as a performer, composer and arranger has received many awards and accolades. His artistic projects and collaborations boast a list of musicians of the very highest caliber including Brad Mehldau, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Tete Montoliu, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and many more. Los Angeles, California-born pianist/composer Danny Grissett has been one of the most sought-after musicians on the New York and international jazz scenes for the last 20 years.

During Sambeat’s his career, he has received numerous awards including the prestigious "Bird Award" given by the North Sea Jazz Festival to the musician deserving wider recognition (2003), and best recording of the year for "Flamenco Big Band" (2008 and 2009). Sambeat first came to London as the leader of a quartet made up of Brad Mehldau and Stephen Keogh back in 1993. He is now considered to be one of the best musicians that Spain has ever produced. 

Danny has been a sideman of choice for artists such as Vincent Herring, Nicholas Payton, Jeremy Pelt, and Vanessa Rubin. He also joined trumpeter/composer Tom Harrell’s groups, with whom he has had an ongoing association for the past 16 years. He has appeared on 7 of the last 12 releases from the great trumpeter.

Danny began is solo career in 2006 with the release of his debut recording “Promise” on the Criss Cross Jazz label, to much critical acclaim. He followed “Promise” with six additional remarkable recordings, over the next 10 years, during which he split his time between sideman projects and touring his trio. This time included stints with Benny Golson, Louis Hayes, Lenny White, Buster Williams, Marcus Strickland, and Jimmy Greene. His latest recording, Remembrance, was released on the NY recording label Savant. It received 4 out of 5 stars in Downbeat Magazine.

 

Stephen Keogh - drums

During the 80’s he played as a percussionist with the National Symphony

Orchestra of Ireland. At the same time he also became the drummer of choice for many visiting jazz artists, including Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Jimmy Witherspoon, Harry Edison, Pat La Barbera, and James Moody and Benny Carter. He also toured internationally with Louis Stewart during this period and appears on several albums.

At the end of the 80s, he moved to London and joined the Peter King Quartet of which he was a member for 18 years. At the same time he toured and recorded with British, European and American jazz artists, including Art Farmer, Jason Rebello, and Jean Toussaint among others. He continues to perform both on recordings and International tours with a long and growing list of major artists that reads as a who’s who of the jazz world; Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, Harold Land, Brad Mehldau, Mark Turner, Herb Ellis, Benny Golson, Antonio Serrano, Steve Grossman, Peter Bernstein et al. He enjoys long lasting collaborations with Charles McPherson, Bruce Barth Trio, Jerry Bergonzi, Dick Oatts and many more.

Mark Hodgdon

Born in Kendal, Cumbria and coming from a musical family Mark originally played electric bass in funk and fusion bands, but was inspired to take up the Double Bass after seeing The Oscar Peterson Trio featuring Ray Brown. In 1995 he moved to London to study Double Bass and Electric Bass at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 1999 Mark left London and moved to Barcelona, Spain, where he was based for four years. He returned to the UK in 2003. Mark has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians, from members of The Police and The Rolling Stones to Paul McCartney, Jamie Cullum, Lizz Wright, The London Symphony Orchestra and Electronica wizard Matthew Herbert. Jazz artists Mark has worked with include....Cedar Walton, Phil Woods, Steve Grossman, John Taylor, Randy Brecker, Larry Coryell, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Osby and Jeff Ballard. Since returning to London Mark has been involved in a diverse range of projects, from film music to Hip Hop and R&B records, he has also been a regular member of Bill Bruford’s ‘Earthworks’, Billy Cobham’s ‘Art Of 5’, The Steve Grossman/Damon Brown Quintet, The Bill Charlap Trio, Tim Garland’s 'Underground Orchestra', The Julian Joseph Trio feat. Mark Mondesir.

Band Line Up

Perico Sambeat (alto & soprano sax)

Danny Grissett (piano)

Mark Hodgson (bass)

Stephen Keogh (drums)