BENN (with two n’s!) is a unique jazzman. A Londoner, born in 1955, and grandson to the legendary superstar of the musicals, Gertrude Lawrence, he received early tenor saxophone tuition from the great Ronnie Scott.
He was recommended to the Berklee School of Music in the States, and stayed on that side of the water, becoming a major name on the West Coast Jazz Scene, often appearing with pianists Cedar Walton and Horace Silver.
He returns to his homeland once a year, his Cockney accent still intact, and on this 2014 tour, stopped off at Marlow Jazz Club on March 18 to meet up with a regular club favourite, Doctor Jazz, Art Themen- another very distinctive tenor saxophonist, well known for his double life as a leading bone surgeon.
The pair have met a couple of times before and have quickly formed a dynamic alliance.
A fair sized crowd in the Royal British Legion Hall were treated to some inspired music, the two frontliners trading choruses on LadyBird, I Mean You and Nica’s Dream amongst others.
Denis Smith at drums and Andy Crowdy on bass provided solid support, but the bonus of the evening was some really magical piano playing from the great John Donaldson, all the way from Hastings, and making his first appearance at the club.
He is with Benn on most of this current tour. Benn featured a ballad to contrast with the high octane programme, and, for many, his soulful reading of Lennon and McCartney’s Here, There And Everywhere was the highspot of a very entertaining evening.
by Louise Lacey
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