Friday 3 November 2023
Elsden Music showcase feat. The John Crawford Quintet with Eleonora Claps and Laura Lantano.
John Crawford is one of the finest Latin/Jazz pianists on the scene, whose unerring musicality and impressive technique have taken him all over the world. He has worked with the Latin legends Airto Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo, and Eumir Deodato as well as the UK based artists such as Snowboy, Roberto Pla and Viramundo.
His third album Room for Dancing will be released by Elsden Music early next year. It features guitarist Guille Hill (from Uruguay), bassist Alec Dankworth, percussionist Andres Ticino (also from Uruguay) and drummer Simon Pearson, along with guest singer Eleonora Claps. The album features some distinctive arrangements including Bulgarian tune Polegnala e Todora (from Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares) and a beautiful performance of a Billy Joel song by John and Eleonora - as well as several of John’s original compositions.
John Crawford - piano
Guillermo Hill - guitar
Alec Dankworth - double bass
Andres Ticino - drums and percussion
tba - sax
We hope to have pre-release copies of the LP available for sale on the night.
ELEONORA CLAPS and LAURA LANTANO (2ND SET)
In the second set John and his band will be joined by three contrasting singers who have all recorded at the Elsden Music Studio.
Eleonora Claps started her musical career as a drummer in her native Italy, before becoming better known as a singer via her first album Stars (2015) and her performances on the live music scene in London and beyond. She is currently recording an album of original songs, working with a group of highly regarded jazz musicians, including John Crawford on piano. Tonight, will be a world premiere, as she performs a few of these songs live for the first time!
Singer-songwriter Laura Lantano recorded her stunning debut album Returning to Myself last year at Elsden Music. With her warm and rich voice, Laura tells stories of love, heartache, putting the past behind and starting afresh. Influenced by her love of jazz standards and songwriting from artists such as Carole King and Burt Bacharach, she has written a set of original songs that are authentic and intricate. Laura’s album is a powerful statement from a new breed of singer-songwriter that acknowledges the traditional and finds her own voice in the process.
“This album is planted directly in the soil of nostalgia and authenticity, flourishing into a sentimental collection of beautifully written songs” - Jazz Views
Elsden Music: Based in a recording studio next to the Regents Canal in East London, Elsden Music is a jazz record label run by recording and mixing engineer Greg Dowling.
The well-equipped studio offers a restored 1914 Broadwood Grand Piano and a comprehensive collection of vintage and modern microphones and recording equipment.
A lifelong jazz enthusiast, Greg delights in recording and releasing music he loves, played by musicians he admires. Recent releases have included guitarists Alban Claret and trumpeter, Evan Clegg, singer Juliet Wood, and pianist and singer Ikumi Koyama.
A recent release, showcased at Jazz Café Posk, featured guitarists Nigel Price and Alban Claret. As well as John Crawford’s new album, forthcoming releases include an album by Shanti Jayasinha’s Brazilian Cello trio.
Video 1 (John Crawford solo – “Estate”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI6JQ6ndEWc&t=93s
Video 2 (Laura Lantano – “Returning to Myself”):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEZ4orKbQkw&list=OLAK5uy_nRO4kfwG8bJI7RxrSiiE5Zk9AiK7XWv7U&index=4
John Crawford to jeden z najwybitniejszych pianistów latyno-jazzowych na wspolczesnej scenie brytyjskiej, którego nieomylna muzykalność i imponująca technika zachwyciły sluchaczy na całym świecie. Współpracował z latynoskimi legendami Airto Moreirą, Giovannim Hidalgo i Eumirem Deodato, a także z brytyjskimi artystami, takimi jak Snowboy, Roberto Pla i Viramundo.Jego trzeci album Room for Dancing ukaże się nakładem Elsden Music na początku przyszłego roku. W skład zespołu wchodzą gitarzysta Guille Hill (z Urugwaju), basista Alec Dankworth, perkusista Andres Ticino (również z Urugwaju) i perkusista Simon Pearson, a także gościnna wokalistka Eleonora Claps. Album jest pelen wyrazistych aranżacji, w tym bułgarskiej piosenki Polegnala e Todora (z Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares) oraz piękne wykonanie piosenki Billy'ego Joela w wykonaniu Johna i Eleonory, a także kilka oryginalnych kompozycji Johna.
Elsden Music to ciesząca się coraz większym uznaniem wytwórnia jazzowa prowadzona przez realizatora nagrań i miksu, Grega Dowlinga, mieszcząca się w studiu nagraniowym obok Regents Canal we wschodnim Londynie.
