Video of the Day: Ben Crosland Quintet shares Solway Stories album preview
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
The leading bassist shares music from his latest album which is released on Friday 28 May on the Jazz Cat label
Solway Stories is a collection of twelve original compositions by bassist and composer Ben Crosland. The music was inspired by his 1988 visit with his mother to the beautiful area of South West Scotland, bordering the Solway Firth. “We were captivated by the gorgeous landscape and engaging place names – Beeswing, Carsethorn, Islesteps and Powfoot,” explains Crosland. “I decided to write a set of pieces inspired by our trip and wrote those names down on a sheet of paper which I duly filed away.”
In November 2018 a chance viewing of Richard Thompson performing his song ‘Beeswing’ on YouTube reawakened the memory of the trip and Crosland set about the compositional project imagined all those years before. Crosland has revisited Solway Firth and his research into its rich history has shaped many of the compositions in Solway Stories. Alongside Crosland on bass the album also features Steve Waterman (trumpet & flugelhorn), Chris Allard (guitar), Steve Lodder (piano & keyboard) and Dylan Howe (drums).
“I still vividly recall that original journey north, crossing the border and driving through the lovely countryside. That will always be the starting point,” concludes Crosland. “This is a very personal record. Naturally, it is dedicated to my mum who, right to the end of her days, at almost 102 years of age, still relished going out for a ‘spin in the motor’.”
Watch the video below and for more info visit www.jazzcat.com