Product Description

John Critchinson - New Night

 - Original Vinyl LP

Tracklist

Players

Background 

 English jazz pianist, John William Frank Critchinson, "Critch", was born in East London on 24 December 1934, and in 1939 the family moved to the West Country. Through the 50s he played gigs around the Chippenham and Bath area  before making his professional debut in support of tenor saxophonist Ted Carter at the Bath Regency Ballroom in 1957.  Around this time, he took a part in organizing the Icebox Club in Chippenham  where he played behind visiting artists including Ronnie Scott. Following this he worked in London with Rex Ruttley's Band  from 1958 - 1959, and then came a period of musical inactivity from 1959 - 1961 before joining the Avon Cities Jazz Band in the spring of 1961 where he remained until 1963 when he left to start his own trio, playing in Bath and also resident throughout the 60s at the Icebox Club in Chippenham where he backed many visiting musicians into the 70s. During the early 70s he was resident in the Bristol area with his own trio and also played in the CDM Trio with drummer Martin Drew and bassist Ron Mathewson. He played his own trio at Bridport and Torquay through 1975 - 1977, and then moved to London in 1978 where he played gigs with tenor saxophonist Kathy Stobart for 8 months before joining Ronnie Scott's Quartet as a full time band member in May 1979 where he remained until Ronnie stopped playing in 1995. Critchinson also worked with the British jazz-fusion duo Morrissey-Mullen during the early 80s, appearing on 2 of their albums and also recorded with Dick Morrisey. During this period he worked with many visiting American artists including George Coleman, Chet Baker, Johnny Griffin and James Moody. After Scott stopped playing in 1995, "Critch" formed a new Quartet with saxophonist Art Themen, bassist Dave Green, and drummer Dave Barry.  Following Scott's death in 1996, Critchinson formed a quartet  at Ronnie Scott's with saxophonist Pat Crumly, drummer Martin Drew and bassist Leon Clayton  which in 1997 became "The Ronnie Scott Legacy", with a 1999 tribute album Excuse Me, Do I know You?  After the group disbanded, John led his own quartet into the New Millennium and also involved himself heavily in recording and freelance work,  accompanying a wide range of soloists.    

Price £14.95

Product Code: JOHJ16

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