Jazz: Sam Crockatt Trio

Saxophonist Sam Crockatt returns to the ​club with his new trio line-up.

Having graduated from the Royal Academy, Sam Crockatt formed a band with Gwilym Simcock, Oli Hayhurst and Ben Reynolds leading to debut recording Howeird in 2008, which won a Parliamentary Jazz Award later that year. Flood Tide followed commended by The Guardian for it’s “Haunting lyricism”. Citing John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins and Lee Konitz among his musical influences, Sam’s ability to marry his understanding of past masters with contemporary styles keeps him constantly in demand and has taken him to stages at the EFG London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Kragujevac Jazz Festival (Serbia) and WDR Festival (Cologne). He also appears on albums by vocalist Kaz Simmons and pianist Sam Leak. In 2011 Sam and his young family moved to Mells in Somerset, the peal of the bells in his new home village inspiring the title track of most recent recording Mells Bells – the album has drawn praise from such eminent publications as The Guardian, Jazzwise Magazine, The Telegraph and The Financial Times.

“Mells Bells further burnishes Crockatt’s substantial reputation” – The Guardian.

Bassist Henrik Jensen moved from Denmark to London in 1997 and is a graduate of the Royal Academy. He has toured the world from Tokyo to Moscow with various modern jazz projects and also as part of the band for close harmony group The Puppini Sisters. Henrik has previously appeared at the club as band leader with his quartet Followed By Thirteen and trio featuring Danish pianist Esben Tjalve.

Drummer Dave Smith has now appeared at the club quite a few times with various bands. He has performed with US jazz greats such as Eddie Henderson and Donny McCaslin, but is possibly best known for his time with Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters.