Peterborough Jazz Club: Ben Holder Quartet

Ben Holder (violin), Jez Cook (guitar), Paul Jefferies (double bass), Malcolm Garrett (drums)

Ben Holder, the fabulous violinist from the Hot Club band ‘Gypsy Fire’ brings his own quartet to the Club for another not to be missed gig. Ben is one of the most gifted and exciting young jazz violinists in the UK. Taught classically from the age of six, he studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire. During his classical studies, Ben began listening to Jazz – classic masters such as Benny Goodman and Oscar Peterson and of course the great jazz violinists including Grappelli, Joe Venuti and the awe inspiring Stuff Smith. His many awards, including Young Jazz Musician of the Year, are testimony to his incredible talent and flair. Paul Jefferies is an inventive and lyrical bassist with a warm, dark yet clear tone and he appears regularly with a wide range of ensembles including Gypsy Fire. Guitarist Jez Cook also works with John Etheridge and Gary Potter, two of the most stylish guitar players around, and sounds fantastic whether he is playing a Scofield/MacLaughlin-inspired solo or hinting at Hot Club de Paris. Beyond his jazz work, Jez has recorded and gigged with Flamenco star Rafael, further testament to his spectacular yet tasteful solos. Completing the line-up on drums is Malcom Garrett, renowned for his incredible sense of time, swing and energy.

“Ben Holder has the warmth and flexibility of a sax player, and all the extra possibilities of a string instrument – lightning speed harmonics, col legno, glissando and double stopping ” London Jazz Review