Jonathan Crayford Piano Improvisations

Jonathan Crayford Piano Improvisations with Special Guests at Hopetoun Alpha

Jonathan Crayford has been brought to New Zealand to appear in a one-off solo performance and to feature in the upcoming Eru Dangerspeil shows.

With a passion for expressive improvisation, Latin and traditional jazz, Jonathan Crayford will be presented at the Hopetoun Alpha for a rare solo concert performance with very special guests Miguel Fuentes (ex Carlos Santana), Jennifer Zea (Venezuela), Bill Direen (Poetry), Patrick Bleakley and Chris O'Connore.

The dramatic concert will open with Crayford alone at the Steinway placed in the centre of the venue, the audience surrounding the piano. Bill Direen will perform works from his selected poetry underscored by the composer before the first of two intervals where wine and bar service are available.

The second set will have a Latin flavour with Crayford being joined by percussionist Miguel Fuentes and Venezuelan cantante, Jennifer Zea.

In the last set, the rhythm section will become bassist Patrick Bleakley and drummer Chris O'Connore - both whom have performed extensively with Crayford and many others including Blerta, Don McGlashin, Jeff Henderson and Leila Adu.

'The Venue itself provides a special opportunity to change the way we perform a little. It has a great acoustic and is one of those special and rare buildings that you just have to inhabit with a bit of thought. That's why the piano goes in the middle and we invite everyone to come in and around. Also there will be very good wine and in general an evening that takes people on a journey from introspection right out to a club scene at the end'. Jonathan Crayford

Jonathan Crayford: Biography

Jonathan Crayford is one of New Zealand's finest pianist composers. His work spans four decades, four continents and has garnered him many accolades and awards.

His early career was largely based around film and touring with the notorious Bruno Lawrence. During the 90's he lived in New York City and worked with Afro/Cuban band Mambo Macoco, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Groove Collective and Dave Binney Band.

In recent years he has toured in Aotearoa with TrinityRoots, Cornerstone Roots, Olmecha Supreme, Nathan Haines and as a solo improviser with Chamber Music New Zealand.

In Cuba he has worked with Bobby Carcasses and in Europe with Reggie Washington, Jacques Swartz-Bart, Vernon Reid and avant-garde jazz great, David Murray. Crayford is currently residing in Paris where he is researching a composition and multimedia project on the young, brilliant and tragic mathematician Évariste Galois.

Jonathan Crayford Piano Improvisations with Special Guests at Hopetoun Alpha, 19 Beresford Square, Auckland, Thursday October 21.

Tickets are $25 (+bf) from Eventfinder.co.nz, Door Sales $30
Doors open 7.30pm, show starts 8.00pm

Wine by Two Paddocks - Central Otago

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