Running time: 90 minutes with interval
The Ben Cox Band pay tribute to Tony Bennett & Bill Evans
Although The Ben Cox Band are making their own waves after their recent album launch and sell out shows at Ronnie Scott’s, they are all steeped in Jazz history and tonight they are taking their inspiration from two Jazz Legends – Tony Bennett & Bill Evans.
In 1975, over a 3 day period, they hit the studio and produced a masterpiece, a nine track album called simply The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
Bennett told Evans, “You don’t bring your cronies and I won’t bring mine,” and the outcome of this intimate duet highlighted the sublime creative accompanist in Evans, and the deep jazz sensitivities of the vocal legend. (John Fordham – Guardian)
The second album, one year later, is an even better record of these two great artists, and tonight you will get to hear such classic duets as ‘Some Other Time’ & ‘When In Rome’. Jamie Safiruddin, Musical Director, has expanded some of their arrangements to the incorporate a rhythm section to swing through classics like ‘The Days of Wine & Roses’ and ‘Who Can I Turn To’. The single hidden gem from Evans’ own prolific pen will not be neglected, so expect to also hear “Waltz For Debby” with delightful and playful lyric written by his friend, Gene Lees.
‘Fresh new vocal jazz music, The title track This Waiting Game sounds really good, Ben has got a very precise voice, it recalls a little bit of Kurt Elling to me, certainly in the writing style of the music and I’m looking forward to hearing the rest of the album’ Jamie Cullum
‘Ben Cox possesses a voice drenched in soul and swing, that sounds like nobody else. He is a cracking songwriter and collaborator, A true talent’ Ian Shaw
‘Ben Cox owns a stunning capacity to live through each song with a rich tone and beautifully honest heart. Jamie Safiruddin plays with such an exciting and generous style. . I think we may have found the best new jazz talent to emerge from the UK. Highly recommended’ Liane Carroll
‘Jamie Safiruddin is a smart, sensitive pianist and his work with the classy young singer, Ben Cox, shows enormous promise’ Barb Jungr
