Gig Guide

08Mar
2024

Urvashi

Urvashi is a new London-based collective, formed in January 2023. Inspired by the band's shared love for traditional and modern music, they draw equally from Indian Qawwali, Arabic Tarab, modal jazz, hard rock and rave culture. Their tracks layer both original melodies and fresh interpretations of traditional songs, over grooves reimagined from different musical backgrounds, combined with extensive improvisation.

Urvashi's highly anticipated debut EP will be launched in March 2024.

Featuring Joe Armer on guitar, Theo Malka-Wishart on bass, Rishi Pelham on drums, Noel Mawulikplimi Dossavi on percussion, Anna Chai on sax and flute.

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15Mar
2024

Ross Stanley Quartet

Well known to Crypt regulars Ross Stanley returns with his excellent Hammond Organ quartet. As well as Ross on Hammond, the band features Paul Booth - Tenor Sax, Chris Allard - Guitar, and Joel Barford - Drums.

This is without doubt one of the finest jazz combos on the planet. Do not miss this one.

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22Mar
2024

Harper Trio

Harper trio, has been described as the new voice of contemporary UK jazz is led by electric harpist Maria Christina Harper. While flirting with the avant-garde and psychedelia, it creates an exciting, inventive, spiritual free jazz sound. It’s where East meets West as Harper's compositions build on her Greek and Egyptian heritage.

Electric jazz harpist and composer Maria-Christina Harper is reinventing the sound of the harp in the jazz world. With her anarchic spirit and an interest in exploring what the harp can do, rather than exploring its traditional sounds, she presents her instrument in new and exciting ways. Combining her traditional music roots with free jazz she creates an irresistible, compelling sound cosmos. It’s where East meets West. Maria-Christina has gathered two outstanding, highly acclaimed players to form The Harper Trio for whom she has specifically composed 7 original tracks. Featuring drummer’s-drummer Evan Jenkins and the dynamic saxophonist Josephine Davies (Instrumentalist of The Year, 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Awards), the trio release Passing By, a powerful debut recording of shimmering soundscapes and psychedelic sounds that flirt with the avant-garde creating an inventive slice of spiritual jazz. ‘Passing By’ was released on 27 October 2023 and was launched at The Royal Albert Hall on 2 November. Earlier this year, The Harper Trio released the album’s first single, ‘In Cairo/Grandma’s Coat’. The track enjoyed significant radio play and critical praise establishing a new voice at the cutting edge of contemporary jazz.

All three members of The Harper Trio are part of the musical exodus to the seaside town of Hastings and is where they met. It is also the place that inspired Standing Alone the second single to be taken from the album; an unapologetically slow, yielding contemplative piece of music and the album‘s only ballad. The grace, beauty and the meditative nature of the composition “reflects the expansive vistas and seascapes of Hastings’s East Cliff where I so often find myself alone” says Maria Christina, “it’s about those moments of deep reflection when we question who we are and appreciate what we have.”

Maria-Christina Harper studied classical piano and harp in Athens, then at London’s Royal Academy. Disillusioned with the years of rigid, intense practicing of classical technique that left little room for musical self-expression, she found her way to studying Music Therapy with its focus on improvisation, something she describes as “a revelation”. And so began her journey in jazz.

Both Evan Jenkins and Josephine Davies are well known on the UK scene with enviable jazz credentials.

Maria-Christina argues that the glorious free sound they create is, in part, due to a friendship built over cooking, eating, talking and the long, unhurried playing of music together in Hastings, unhindered by the constraints of the city. “We knew we were onto something special from our very first rehearsal” she says. “It was an exciting and special moment”.

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29Mar
2024

We Are Closed on Good Friday

See You Next Week!

05Apr
2024

Billy Pod Quintessence

Billy Pod (aka Vasileios Podaras) is an award-winning Greek drummer/musician based in London.

His debut album 'Drums to Heal Society' (2019), has not just given Billy a prominent position among the new generation of drummers internationally, but also demonstrated his compelling skills as a composer and music ensemble director.

His latest album entitled ‘Quintessence’ is a reflection on the intellectual nature of humanity in modern society. It was well received by press, media and audiences during his UK and European tour in 2023. Billy will be presenting music from this album along with other original compositions, and arrangements of classical music pieces and jazz standards.

They play dynamic and lyrical contemporary jazz with haunting melodies and rich, complex moods.

“His abilities as writer and performer are refreshing, different and most welcome” - Jazzwise Magazine.

"Billy Pod is an artist that has something important to say so it’s best we give him our attention going forward…” - Lost in the Nordics Blog.

Features Ant Law - guitar, Rupert Cox - piano, Joe Downard - bass, & Billy Pod – drums.

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