The John Lake Band are contemporary jazz ensemble playing a mix of original material, new takes on modern jazz standards and re-works of pop tunes in a jazz setting.
The band appears regularly as a piano trio with John Lake on piano, Matt Casterton on bass and Simon Cambers on drums in venues on the south coast, recently as a resident band in Victoria Lounge of the Grand Hotel, Brighton.
The band appears regularly as a piano trio with John Lake on piano, Matt Casterton on bass and Simon Cambers on drums in venues on the south coast, recently as a resident band in Victoria Lounge of the Grand Hotel, Brighton.
Now the band is regularly playing as a quartet with Elizabeth Bustard on saxes on flute to bring a new texture and quality to the music.
With many years of experience in other bands and 7 years in this format, the band can provide music for many types of event from full concert, as an added entertainment to another event like wine tastings and as background to a party or festive occasion.
With many years of experience in other bands and 7 years in this format, the band can provide music for many types of event from full concert, as an added entertainment to another event like wine tastings and as background to a party or festive occasion.
What people are saying about the music and the band
John Lake Quartet at the Brighton U3A Jazz Appreciation Group
Tuesday 4 April 2023
Thanks once again to you and the rest of the quartet for your excellent session a couple of weeks ago. .
We were especially p;leased to hear a number of your own tunes"
David Lepper and Peter Green
John Lake Trio Playing the Music of Michel Camilo
Wednesday 7 August 2019
"What a trio this is. Yes I’d have liked a
respite in this acoustic, but for 45 minutes, pretty unbeatable for
summer jazz."
Simon Jenner Brighton Fringe Review
For the full review click here;
John Lake Band The Verdict, Brighton Saturday 26th March 2016
"Pianist John Lake released his debut album Up On The Downs in 2013 and played some of the pieces from that album, but this night was very much about the new material from his new album Wave of Translation. Beginning with the upbeat Zero Sum Game, Alex Bondonno showed off his power and fluency on tenor saxophone. One of John Lake’s strengths is his ability to play contemplatively and my favourite tracks from Up on the Downs, such as Selangor Fireflies were notably absent from a set that was mostly funky and upbeat, highlighting the vocal talent of Jackie Sampson on new tunes such as Make Up Your Mind and That’s Alright By Me.
The highlights of the evening included the prog-rock inspired Prelude and Interlude in E minor (dedicated to the late Keith Emerson) and Lake’s jazzy trio interpretation of Isaac Albéniz’s Asturias."
"I've been enjoying Wave of Translation: lots of variety, great writing and all good tunes."
Simon Goodwin, Drummer and bandleader, March 2019
"Thank you again for your CD, I listen to it often - and this is a very nice meditation, thanks!"
In a tribute to the late Lee Harwood;
"John Lake has come up with some great new compositions, full of interesting shapes and colours, beautifully played by his trio"
John Donaldson, Jazz pianist and composer
"Brighton based local piano trio led by a veteran performer/composer playing folky tunes using basic resources"
"Overall, it's very impressive, with interesting tunes, good sound quality, and a complete absence of over-indulgent solos"
Viva Lewes, July 2013
A.P. from Bulgaria, November 2013
"your (trio's) performance at Keats House was truly brilliant; my friend and I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to coming to some of your future events."
Emily Readman, Devon, February 2013Description of the band
The John Lake Band is at its core a piano-led, jazz and modern music ensemble, with John Lake on piano, Matt Casterton on bass guitar and Simon Cambers on drums. They play together regularly as a trio and over the last 7 years this has included the Verdict in Brighton (in the Guardian's top ten jazz venues in Europe in 2016), Ray's Jazz in London, Odense Bibliothek in Denmark, Keats House, London as well as many local jazz pubs, hotels and theatres. They also perform jazz standards and original music with poetry and to date this has included John Harvey (Inspector Resnick novels), Anjan Saha (Live Literature Lounge,UK), Romi Harris, Lee Harwood and F. D. Reeve (USA).
In the past the trio have been joined by Alex Bondonno (band leader and multi instrumentalist) and Phil Paton on saxes and Jackie Sampson on vocals and percussion, gigging the recording of the latest CD Wave of Translation which was released in February 2016.
Both CDs of the band (Up on the Downs and Wave of Translation) have been launched to capacity audiences at the Verdict in Brighton and been well reviewed and received at live events.
The original music of the band is mainly composed by John Lake with significant input by band members to hone and perfect the finished product. The music is intensely melodic jazz, spiced by strong rhythmic changes and grooves which both reflects the soundscape of jazz bands like the Yellowjackets, Dave Grusin, Robert Glasper with that of the compositions of Dave Brubeck and David Benoit.
It has a distinctly contemporary sound but with a touch of heritage of the great modern jazz tradition since the 1950's but with its own unique blend in composition. As a live band they produce grooves which keep feet tapping with a strong stage presence.
In the past the trio have been joined by Alex Bondonno (band leader and multi instrumentalist) and Phil Paton on saxes and Jackie Sampson on vocals and percussion, gigging the recording of the latest CD Wave of Translation which was released in February 2016.
Both CDs of the band (Up on the Downs and Wave of Translation) have been launched to capacity audiences at the Verdict in Brighton and been well reviewed and received at live events.
The Music
The original music of the band is mainly composed by John Lake with significant input by band members to hone and perfect the finished product. The music is intensely melodic jazz, spiced by strong rhythmic changes and grooves which both reflects the soundscape of jazz bands like the Yellowjackets, Dave Grusin, Robert Glasper with that of the compositions of Dave Brubeck and David Benoit.
It has a distinctly contemporary sound but with a touch of heritage of the great modern jazz tradition since the 1950's but with its own unique blend in composition. As a live band they produce grooves which keep feet tapping with a strong stage presence.
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