Paul Booth & the Cedric Hanriot Trio

This rare combination of two of the finest musicians from the UK and France respectively promises to be something very special. Cédric Hanriot is a Grammy Award-winning French pianist, composer and producer who is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and talented jazz artists of his generation. After receiving a Masters degree in Electronical Engineering in 1998 Cedric moved on to study music at the Conservatoire of Metz from which he graduated with honours in 2000. From there he won a scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston (USA) from which he received a further degree in 2009. Since then he has had something of a meteoric rise on the international Jazz scene, working with the likes of Herbie Hancock, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Danilo Perez, George Duke, Joe Lovano and Christian McBride. His first album “French Stories”, featuring the iconic rhythm section of Terri Lyne Carrington and John Patitucci, fused hip hop, acoustic jazz and a touch of electro power house and was received with universal acclaim. Recipient of a Fulbright Grant Cedric has also won Best Jazz Soloist prize at the International Jazz Festival in Monaco and the SACEM and SPEDIDAM prizes for his compositions. He has performed all over the World, including Canada, China, Mexico, Nicaragua, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Argentina and Uruguay as well of course as the UK and his native France. And he is, of course, a Grammy Award-winner for his work on the Dianne Reeves' album “Beautiful Life”, which won Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year 2015. His project "groOovematic", was created at the beginning of 2011 with bassist Bertrand Beruard and drummer Jean-Baptiste Pinet, the rhythm section that he and Paul will be performing with tonight. Cedric likes to describe his music as "a music of our era - a music that takes its influences from the Afro-American heritage and European classical tradition but also from innovations created by recent music styles, such as hip hop and electronic music”. With a performance schedule that takes him to recognized jazz venues and events around the globe Cedric's refreshingly original sound is fast making him one of the most influential young jazz artists on the scene. A powerful and lyrical player, Paul Booth is without doubt one of the leading saxophonists of his generation. He includes a number of prestigious awards on his CV, including “Most Promising Young Jazz Player”, “Best Modern Jazz Player” and the American “Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Award”. He toured the world as the featured saxophonist with the “Riverdance” show, worked with the likes of Eric Clapton and Matt Bianco and is currently a member of the Steve Winwood Band. Supremely tasteful and versatile, he has been featured on numerous recordings as a sideman, as well as with his own world music ensemble, Patchwork Project and world music big band Bansangu Orchestra (of which he is Music Director), putting him among an elite class of musicians on the jazz scene and beyond. This promises to be a remarkable night's music, booking definitely advised.

“Blistering saxist” Independent;
“Paul Booth...Exceptional talent” Sunday Times;
“Cedric is one of the most talented musicians I know" Terri Lyne Carrington