A poignant release for anyone who knew drummer Simon Pearson (The Wedding Present, Steve Martland, Goya’s Dress) who is on Room For Dancing. The drummer who hailed from Leeds died last year aged just 54. Pianist John Crawford paying tribute to him on londonjazznews.com recalled his groove and his swing and dedicates the album to him. Tracks on this upcoming studio album release mostly recorded in London in the summer of 2022 - one track was recorded five years earilier and then added to - include 'Maîte’s Dance' named after one of Crawford's daughters. Personnel with Crawford include UK jazz bass icon Alec Dankworth - great last year with Oxford band Hummus Crisis - guitarist Guillermo Hill, known for his work with singer-pianist Joanna Eden, Nikki Yeoh Cafe Oran player cellist Shirley Smart, Pearson, Andres Ticino on percussion and singers Linley Weir & Eleonora Claps. Playing Crawford tunes in the main. Odd meter compositions include the 11/8 of 'Polegnala e Todora' ('Theodora is Dozing') a version of a Philip Koutev choral piece based on Bulgarian folk song. The album, full of clean lines, and expressive, often sunnily accessible themes, also includes a cover sung toothsomely by Eleonora Claps of Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes' covered in recent years as an instrumental by Russell Malone on the erstwhile Diana Krall guitarist's Time for the Dancers. Crawford's 'Club Del Campesino' featuring cellist Smart was published in Nikki Iles' sheet music book Grooves for Two (Oxford University Press, 2015).
Opener 'Maîte’s Dance' is streaming. John Crawford, photo: press. Room For Dancing is out on 19 April
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