"A glorious piano solo... everyone there that night agreed that a man to watch out for is pianist John Crawford, a skillful and imaginative soloist" — John Childs, Jazzwise Magazine
"hypnotized by the enchanting piano playing of John Crawford" — Paul J Youngman, www.vinilemania.net
"followed by John Crawford whose piano playing is a delight all through the record" — Dan Mather, www.musicweb-international.com
Programme notes coming soon.
Evening Schedule
Doors: 18:45 - with a welcoming glass of wine or soft drink to start the evening.
First Set: 19:30 - 20:15
Intermission / Refreshments: 20:15 - 20:30
Second Set: 20:30 - 21:15
Reception: 21:15 - 22:00 - the post-concert reception with a curated selection of wines and soft drinks, offering a chance to continue the conversation, meet the artist, and savor the evening.
IMA-nominated musician John Crawford was born in London to English and Spanish parents. He began on Blues piano, inspired by his father, and was introduced to Latin music by his mother. He has performed at major venues and festivals, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the 606 Club, and Royal Albert Hall. His latest album as leader, Room for Dancing (Elsden Music), will be released on 19th April 2024, following its launch at the 606 Club on 18th April. His 2012 release Ulia River of Time was nominated for Best Jazz Album by the Independent Music Awards, and the follow-up, Times and Tides, was described as “Latin-flavoured Jazz from a maestro of the genre.”
In the Latin world, he has worked with legends such as Airto Moreira, Giovanni Hidalgo, Eumir Deodato, Tito Allen, Frankie Morales, and Luisito Carrion, as well as UK artists like Snowboy, Luna Cohen, and Jazzinho. As a jazz pianist, he has performed with Tony Coe, Tina May, Norma Winstone, Alec Dankworth, Gilad Atzmon, and Chris Batchelor. Pop collaborations include Björk, Tanita Tikarem, Lewis Taylor, Us3, and Babyface.
A lifelong passion for dance has led him to work with tap and flamenco artists including Heather Cornell and Andrew Nemr.
John is also an acclaimed author, with publications including Exploring Latin Piano, Brazilian Piano Collection, Grooves for Two, and Piano Globetrotters.
Singer-songwriter and drummer Eleonora Claps was born in Milano, Italy. She started playing drums in her teenage years, and was soon joining pop and rock bands on the city’s scene, recording in studio and performing live on stages across the country and abroad.
In 2007, she moved to London and was inspired to take on new challenges – studying jazz singing amongst them. Joining open mics around town was her first approach to performing as a singer. Having built a repertoire, including her own original material, she started gigging in London and across the country.
Her first album “Stars” (including originals as well as jazzy arrangements of pop tunes by Prefab Sprout, Cyndi Lauper, and Simply Red amongst others) was released in 2015, garnering support on UK press and radios.
Her second album “10pm” (March 2024) is a collection of 10 original songs, featuring Eleonora as a singer and drummer, with John Crawford on piano and Andy Hamill on bass. A reflection on the speed and challenges of modern life, infused with nostalgia and memories of the past, the songs on Eleonora’s new album are a fitting continuation of a journey started with her debut album.