JOHN LAW'S CONGREGATION
Thu 6 Mar 2025 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
The Grasshopper, BH14 9HT
Description
Pianist John Law returns to SoundCellar with the latest version of his original tunes project, CONGREGATION. Presenting, alongside new compositions, some of John’s best works from his back catalogue, this is a return to a purely acoustic quartet. Covering everything from broad, anthem-like melodies and hard-hitting, rhythmically powerful groovers, to slow, poised ballads with meltingly beautiful tunes…Come and join the Congregation!
This gig will take place at The Grasshopper,
139 – 141 Bournemouth Rd, Poole BH14 9HT.
Please note: If parking in either of the car parks at The Grasshopper, you must register your vehicle on one of the dedicated terminals at the bar or in the function room.
For U18s & Students ticket offers, click on 'Buy Tickets' (note: offer only available until limited numbers reached)
John Law, a prize-winning classical prodigy on piano, turned away from classical piano studies to pursue jazz and improvised music when he was 23 and has been involved in, and acclaimed for, a wide variety of contemporary jazz and classical projects: from solo piano concerts and albums, through trio and quartet tours and recordings, right through to large scale works for his semi-classical ensemble Cornucopia.
He has played at over fifty festivals worldwide including North Sea Jazz Festival (Rotterdam), Delhi International Jazz Festival and London Jazz Festival at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and in clubs and concert halls all over the UK, mainland Europe, North America and beyond, working with musicians as diverse as Gwilym Simcock, Andy Sheppard, Jason Rebello, Tim Garland and Evan Parker. He has recorded over forty albums.
Returning to his original tunes quartet Congregation, after a hiatus of a few years, John launches this new line-up, featuring long-time colleague from his Re-Creations ensemble: Parliamentary Jazz Award Winner Sam Crockatt on saxophones, acclaimed bassist Nick Pini (Laura Marling, Tom Jones, Mary-Chapin Carpenter) and world class drummer Dave Smith (Robert Plant, Mark Lockheart, Donny McCaslin, Iain Ballamy)
The group will feature works from the Congregation albums Three Leaps of the Gazelle, These Skies In Which We Rust and CONFIGURATION, including I Sink Therefore I Swam, Configuration, Triadic Ballet and, from the older trio group, tunes like Bo Peep and the signature hit tune Congregation.
“Dizzyingly beautiful tunes, magical effects and perfect playing…John Law is our 21st c. Bach!” Only Jazz, 2015
“Melodic contemporary jazz with a strong rhythmic pulse and some strikingly memorable and original tunes” Sandy Brown Jazz 2016
John Law: piano, percussion, composition
Sam Crockatt: saxophones, glockenspiel
Nick Pini: bass
Dave Smith: drums
All advance ticket buyers will receive an exclusive link to a video of the evening’s performance, available for one month
Location
The Grasshopper, BH14 9HT