This musical partnership was formed in New York City in 2017 between the highly acclaimed US saxophonist Jed Levy (Jaki Byard, Jack McDu/, Mike Clark, Tom Harrell etc) www.jedlevy.com and multi-award-winning UK born guitarist Phil Robson (Mark Turner, David Liebman, Billy Hart, Partisans, etc) www.philrobsonmusic.com , who was living in NYC at the time.
The American quartet featuring Peter Slavov and Clarence Penn quickly began to become a regular feature in the city’s iconic venues such as Smalls, Birdland, 55 Bar etc, as well as touring in the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Northern California and more. Robson relocated to Ireland in 2020, but since that time the collaboration has continued with various European incarnations of the band. The current line-up features one of Europe’s most celebrated drummers, from Rome, Roberto Gatto (Freddie Hubbard, Jon Scofield, Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, etc) https://www.robertogatto.com and the incredible UK bassist Mark Hodgson (Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, Eddie Henderson, Greg Osby, etc) who is one of the most in demand bassists on the contemporary jazz scene today https://www.peteatkin.com/mhodgson/mhodgson.htm
The quartet plays original music penned by both Levy and Robson. The music is innovative and contemporary whilst remaining highly melodic and groovy, with a strong sense of tradition mixed in with the diverse characteristics of each composer.
“This was high-powered jazz, not by dint of frenetic pace, volume or assertiveness but by the beauty and coherence of the quartet sound that was at once polished but fresh and lively. That’s a di@icult poise to strike, even for musicians as able as these, yet for all that they were fully engaged, each seemed entirely in his element.”
The Whitman Review of Wakefield Jazz Concert
“Added to the warmth of his sound and excellent command of the instrument, Levy is an impressive package deserving wider international recognition. Phil Robson is already gaining wider international recognition, as witnessed by the admiring comments on his playing from Peter Bernstein and Wayne Krantz to be found on his website. His great fluidity and fleet inventiveness were, as ever, balm for the ears.” London Jazz News
To see videos: https://youtu.be/6BNfOrVpe6E?feature=shared
https://youtu.be/duPuvjscYpQ?feature=shared
Standard Tickets: £16.00
Students: £8.00
(Booking fee applies)
Leicester Jazz House supports and promotes the principles of ACE and others regarding the importance of equality, diversity and inclusivity. This includes the acknowledgement that there is much more work to be done to make our society and culture free of prejudice and discrimination in the arts.
Leicester Jazz House CIC is a volunteer-run not-for-profit organisation bringing contemporary jazz of the highest quality to Leicestershire audiences through the programme of events mainly at the Musician Venue, Attenborough Arts Centre and Y Theatre; and also promoting jazz in other ways, including through education.
