Thursday 21st Feb - John Pearce and Dave Newton - £10/5 students

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Violinist, John Pearce, is an internationally renowned jazz and classical musician. He has performed in venues throughout the world, closer to home at the Royal Albert Hall, on radio and television, and has given world premières of works by composers such as Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. As a soloist, he has performed concertos by Bach, Bruch, Beethoven and Brahms and has given duo recitals with pianist and composer Motoki Hirai. His artistry and passion come to the fore in his dazzling jazz performances.

“He extracts a gloriously heart-warming quality from his instrument, playing with the utmost tenderness” (The Guardian). “John Pearce soloed ecstatically … furiously inventive throughout” (JazzWise).

​ His latest album with jazz pianist, David Newton, is receiving outstanding acclaim. 

Pianist David Newton is, in Matt Skelton’s words, "one of our nation’s treasured pianists".

The man has a lovely touch; that is for certain. Scottish-born and educated at the Leeds College of Music, Newton’s recording career had begun in 1985 with Buddy De Franco and Martin Taylor and his first solo album was released in 1988.

He’s been the accompanist of choice for vocal royalty for years, and it’s easy to hear why: Newton’s musical responsiveness is as impressive as his re-harmonization and arranging skills at the piano. It can be a fine line between clever and stupid when it comes to re-setting musical chestnuts to the jazz format, but Newton bridges that gap by a good mile or more. He’s the kind of pianist every drummer and bass player could wish for.

Fittingly, Newton has been voted 'Best Jazz Pianist' in the British Jazz Awards for the thirteenth time in 2014 and was made a Fellow of Leeds College of Music in 2003.