Join saxophone virtuoso and jazz maestro Ewan Bleach as he launches his album 'Ewan, The Night n The Music' at the poet's church.
Ewan Bleach is a clarinetist, saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, bandleader, composer, teacher and session musican based in London and specialising in the early styles of jazz, ragtime, blues and swing. He is also involved in projects of new music with various ensembles, and has been involved with other genres including afrobeat and traditional Turkish music.
Ewan led the Cable Street Rag Band in London and is also involved with international projects including Frog and Henry and the New Orleans band Tuba Skinny, which he has spent time with in the states
He is particularly interested in playing music for dancing, and has run many nights focusing on live music for dancing in London in collaboration with the swing dance scene, most notably the Cakewalk Cafe at Jago (formally passing clouds) in Dalston and Juju's Jazz Band Ball in Shoreditch.
Ewan's interest lines primarily in old sensibilities of pre-war music that he calls "music for dancing and romancing" and is fond of playing for functional events such as weddings and other private parties and happy to be setting the mood as much as being in the limelight.
March 2021 marks the release of his debut album ‘Ewan, The Night’n The Music’.
Bleach has recorded a charming and beautiful collection of songs on an album that he describes as ‘for melting in to your chair at the end of a hard day, mellow and soothing, but not without moments of pathos and passion.’
Ewan Bleach’s love for (and dedication to) the early styles of jazz, ragtime, blues and swing, combined with the undeniable skill that he possesses on his instruments of choice, are swiftly gaining him a reputation as a unique artist who is forging his own path. He specifically cites Sidney Bechet and Lester Young as inspiration for his album, describing them as ‘the sun and the moon of jazz reed players’.
Rather than simply imitating these old masters however, Bleach provides a contemporary spin, interpreting their timeless spirit though a 21st century lens. Recently groups such as Kansas Smitty’s have adopted a similar approach with much success, however Bleach uses his imagination and talent to do this differently and very much in his own way, adopting an engaging narrative throughout the album as ‘a tribute to the poetic side of jazz improvisation and the rich and melodic compositions of the old songwriters’
Ewan Bleach has collaborated with many luminaries in London jazz and big band scenes. Here on the new album, he teams up with Colin Good on piano, John Kelly on guitar and Jim Ydstie on bass, with a special guest appearance of Martin Wheatley on guitar for ‘Deep Purple’, who all greatly enhance proceedings and add to the warmth and vibrancy of the recording as a whole.
For those who love and appreciate classic jazz from an iconic era, or for those discovering the rich legacy of this soothing and soulful music for the first time, Ewan, The Night’n The Music provides a wonderfully therapeutic and rewarding listen, providing a welcome reprieve from the many challenges that we have all been facing in recent years – an important album for the new year and one not to be missed!
On the night, Ewan and his band will play all the tracks from the album as well as selected favourites from his huge repertoire. Merchandise will be available so you can take the album home with you in physical format.