Jonathan Crayford is a successful concert pianist, multi-instrumentalist, film composer and jazz artist from New Zealand who played in nightclubs at 15 with his father, Terry, a pianist and arranger-composer.
He played in bands, wrote film scores and composed music for Radio New Zealand for several years before moving to New York aged 26, where he progressed in the jazz scene before moving to Paris in 2009, returning to New York in 2013 where he recorded the impressive Dark Light with bass player Ben Street and drummer Dan Weiss.
It is no surprise that the latest disc won the 2017 New Zealand jazz record of the year award, as this disc's themes are actually gentle, mostly soothing and accessible to many tastes, with piano themes that look towards Bach and carry thoughtful messages, treated with great care by the nicely respectful bass and drum accompaniment.
There are seven tracks, the longest being East West, (13 minutes) in which the drumming by hands gives an Eastern energy to the piece. Moon is a softly soothing number with a nocturnal feel. Kurt in Berlin also has that feeling of romantic moonlight in the big city. Disturbance has a busier focus supported by the interesting drum patterns conjured up by Weiss. I also enjoyed the opening Salute, and Yves Noir with the Long Wig with its minimalist ending. Light of the Earth was inspired by a poem. All the compositions have a poetic feel and gravitas, reflecting Crayford's classical training.
Verdict: Worthy winner, NZ jazz record of the year.
