John Crawford, Room For Dancing, Elsden Music ***

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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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Awful to hear of the death of Robert Glasper Experiment saxophonist Casey Benjamin at just 45. New Yorker Benjamin studied at the Harlem School of the Arts and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and later the New School where he met Glasper. Benjamin was in the first iteration of the Experiment with Glasper, bassist Derrick Hodge and Chris 'Daddy' Dave on drums. We are playing Double Booked on which he is on in memory. Benjamin also worked with Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, John Legend and Beyoncé and was a musical director for DJ Logic. I heard Benjamin play a few times with Glasper, notably at the Roundhouse during the iTunes festival Blue Note night - read a review of that excellent 2012 gig held in the famous Chalk Farm venue here. In Cork a few years earlier he definitely stole the show. Reviewing the Cork (2010) gig for Jazzwise I wrote at the time that ''Casey Benjamin was the star turn of the show as the flamboyantly coiffured saxman sang strongly using a Vocoder for effect projecting some customised songs chief of which was ‘All Matter’, the choice ballad from Double Booked''. Benjamin will be much missed by fans, peers and colleagues everywhere. Anyone who heard him play knew what a stirring sound he conjured. He knew how to move people. SG

John Crawford, Room For Dancing, Elsden Music ***

Casey Benjamin has died at the age of 45