About this Event

Benn Clatworthy – John Donaldson Quartet

Benn Clatworthy (tenor sax), John Donaldson (piano), Simon Thorpe (double bass),

Matt Home (drums)

Benn is a tenor saxophonist in the hardbop tradition, drawing stylistic cues from Coltrane’s late 1950s work, also Warne Marsh and Sonny Rollins. He is currently resident in the UK and US where he worked with a number of jazz greats including the late Cedar Walton, Lionel Hampton and Jimmy Cleveland. In the UK he has partnered Alan Barnes and John Donaldson amongst many other high profile artists. Like Sony Rollins, he is harmonically adventurous, and is capable of playing at speeds that recall Charlie Parker.



John got hooked on jazz as a Cambridge student in 1978. He was part of the Cambridge Modern Jazz Club’s resident trio, backing visiting guest soloists in the city. In 1980 he won the prize for best soloist at the San Sebastian International Jazz Competition. In 1982 he moved to California, gigging with local notables including Eddie Henderson, Red Holloway, John Handy and Richie Cole. He also worked in groups alongside Larry Grenadier, Jeff Ballard, Donny McCaslin, and Louis Romero. Returning to England in 1993 he has worked with many of the leading musicians on the British scene including groups led by Iain Ballamy, Art Themen, Clark Tracy, Alan Barnes, Don Weller, and Norma Winstone. He has also accompanied visiting U.S. artists.



(Benn Clatworthy) ‘possesses the tunefulness of Lester Young and skilfully merges it with the muscular tone of Coleman Hawkins’. The Guardian



http://www.johndonaldson.org



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2qI7yt1LMA - At Sheffield Jazz - Autumn 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ7w2hjtNOg - Live from Wakefield Jazz - Oct 2015