Winner of the BBC Scottish Young Jazz Musician of the Year at only 17, and Berklee College of Music’s prestigious Billboard Award, pianist/composer Alan Benzie is one of the UK’s most exciting young talents. He is joined by friends and long time collaborators Andrew Robb on bass (BBC Scottish Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2009; BassEurope Jazz Competition 2016 - 2nd Prize) and Marton Juhasz on drums (Foundation for Hungarian Percussion Culture Award; “Drummer of the Year” 2014 and 2015, JazzMa reader’s poll).
Their debut album “Traveller’s Tales” garnered glowing reviews from critics, and they have been delighting audiences throughout the UK and Europe, including at London International Jazz Festival and United Europe Jazz Festival, as well as being the featured artists on BBC Radio 3’s “Jazz Line-Up”, Austrian National Radio and BBC Scotland’s “The Jazz House”. The music is rooted in European and American jazz, but is influenced by impressionist piano music and film music, and Benzie’s love of Japanese animation gives a visual, storytelling quality. From sensitive, magical textures to virtuosic explosions of energy, the trio are both sophisticated and accessible, with the warmth, empathy and interplay that can only be achieved through great friendship and years of making music together.
“Andrew Robb and Marton Juhasz on bass and drums are all about close ensemble interaction, and sometimes it’s as if their sounds were coming out from the inside of Benzie’s piano... Benzie’s playing has a hushed yet yearning quality to it; an exquisite touch and elegant virtuosity make for a thoroughly engaging listen.” Jazzwise
“Tasteful and well-judged, this trio makes a terrific team... Benzie has created a set of memorable tunes and his playing, plus that of his colleagues, is exemplary… There is a radiance and beauty about this music…” The Jazz Mann
1. Natsume 2:49
2. The Warrior Who Became a Tiger 7:35
3. Beslan 7:22
4. Hatake Song 6:41
5. Sunken Ruins 6:41
6. Red Street 6:49
7. There Will Be Other Sunsets 5:24
8. Inexorable 5:29
9. The End of His Days 3:07
Andrew Robb, bass
Marton Juhasz, drums
