ALAN BENZIE
Piano prodigy, Alan Benzie is one of the UK’s most exciting young jazz talents. Performing in The Jazz Bar since age 16, he won the BBC-Scotland Young Jazz Musician Award at only 17, and has gone on to win a string of high-profile awards including the prestigious Billboard Award from Berklee College of Music – Benzie is the first UK artists to win this award.
A true child of the Scottish jazz scene, Benzie was tutored by Steve Hamilton, brought in to perform with Colin Steele and Valery Ponomarev (last minute with no sheet music) by Bill Kyle, inducted into the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra, and encouraged to enter for the Berklee award by Mario Caribé.
Now an established, globe-trotting, and highly lauded composer, Benzie’s music focuses around a visual narrative; atmospheric soundscapes that draw inspiration from a range of sources such as Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Keith Jarett, Brad Mehldau, Scottish and Japanese folk, and film scores. Japanese anime film, such as those by Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, provide narrative backdrops with vibrant movement, enchanting character and a lyrical journey.
“Benzie’s playing has a hushed yet yearning quality to it; an exquisite touch and elegant virtuosity make for a thoroughly engaging listen.” JazzwiseFind more of Alan Benzie Trio’s music available to stream on Spotify and Apple Music.
Benzie generously donated his track ‘There Will Be Other Sunsets’, to our brand new 15th anniversary digital album ‘To The Jazz Bar With Love’, available here! Here’s a sneak peek of this beautiful track:
JOHN HUNT’S BLUES KITCHEN
In lieu of this week’s Blues Kitchen episode, a message from John Hunt…
Get your copy of the album here!
– Ye’v been telt!
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You can continue to support us and the professional musicians who are struggling right now, by donating what you might usually spend on an entry fee or a drink, or any other amount that you wish. Professional musicians and all hospitality/event staff are facing an incredibly difficult time, having seen months of steady work disappear over-night. Any donations would be extremely appreciated to help us to continue to pay our staff through our closure and support our local event staff community in any way that we can.