There is just one week to go until James Pearson will be making his annual trip north, together with the remainder of his trio, Sam Burgess Double Bass and Chris Higginbottom, and special guests for James Pearson & Friends, treating us to a journey through the Great American Songbook – The canon of the most important and influential jazz standards from the early 20th century, that have stood the test of time.
There are just a few tickets left, but we are keen to fill every seat. To avoid disappointment it is recommended to book, before you make the trip out, but last minute dot com and even 'walk up' seems to be the order of the day.
James’s special guests this year will be Polly Gibbons, who has graced the Clonter stage on more than one previous occasion, right at the beginning of her career, returning now at the very top of it, just about to release her new album ‘As It is’ (check it out). Also returning is Quentin Collins on trumpet, but making her debut at Clonter will be local saxophonist Alex Clarke.
James Pearson is a pianist, composer and creative tour de force.
He is the Artistic Director at Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club where his trio are the house band. Their last album ‘Swing the Club’, recorded live at the venue, received excellent reviews across the board.
“James Pearson is in shattering form on these sessions.” – The Sunday Times
The recording was ranked at No. 6 in the Sunday Times albums of 2009, and they were delighted to sell out four nights at the legendary Birdland Jazz Club in New York.
James is equally at home as a concert pianist. He has played concertos with the Philharmonia and the BBC Concert Orchestra amongst many others. His performance of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto was broadcast on Classic FM and Gershwin’s Piano Concerto and Rhapsody in Blue on BBC Radio 2. With collaborations ranging from Paul McCartney to Wynton Marsalis, James is fast becoming one of the country’s most sought after pianists.
Recent commissions by the BFI and BBC have seen James back in the composing chair. The Big Smoke, commissioned by the BFI, is a collection of footage of London accompanied by an 80-minute score composed by James. His work can also be heard performed by Brodsky String Quartet, Sir John Dankworth, The BBC Concert Orchestra and The BBC Big Band.
“The harmony of Messiaen mixed with the rhythmic pulse of George Shearing.” – The Sunday Times
James Pearson is one of the country’s most respected musicians. His work covers all genres of music, especially contemporary music, jazz and classical. He graduated from the Guildhall School, having completed his degree and the Advanced Solo Studies Course. Whilst at college he studied with Robert Saxton, Francis Shaw, Peter Bithell and James Gibb. He regularly performed with the symphony orchestra, including a concert at the Barbican with Takemitzu.
James has broadcast on all the major radio and television networks, and he was the pianist in the Steve Martland Band. His work as a Jazz musician has taken him all over the world. His fine piano playing and arrangements can be heard on over 50 albums.
Amongst the many people James has worked with are Dame Cleo Laine, Maria Ewing, Marian Montgomery, Petula Clark, The John Wilson Orchestra, Elvin Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Buddy Greco, Johnny Griffin, Joseph Horowitz, Richard Rodney Bennett, Ray Davies, Polly Gibbons, Nigel Kennedy, Robbie Williams, Rufus Wainwright, Gregory Porter, Imelda May, Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney.
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