The Ben Crosland Quintet

Wednesday 8th May 2024

It is becoming a bit of a habit to be describing our bands as ‘Supergroups’…and this is no exception!

Led by bassist and composer, Ben Crosland, this band features a personnel of the finest players in the UK:

Ben Crosland : bass

Steve Lodder : keyboards

Steve Waterman: trumpet

Chris Allard: guitar

Nic France: drums

Where to start with Ben’s band? - Well, Steve Lodder has long been highly in demand, from his long established working partnership with sax star Andy Sheppard, to working intensively with Sir Paul McCartney! Steve Waterman is well known to Spin audiences, and is probably the most popular – and virtuosic – trumpeter that has been visiting the club! Waterman has worked with Carla Bley, Vince Mendoza, John Surman and all sorts of A-listers!  As well as touring the world with all sorts of glitterati, Chris Allard is also well known to Spin audiences, being a regular with the brilliant Ross Stanley and Paul Booth; Nic France’s CV includes work with such major artists as Ronnie Scott, Alan Holdsworth, Kate Bush, Nigel Kennedy, Charlie Haden….and the list goes on and on…!

Solway Stories is a collection of twelve original compositions by Crosland. The music was inspired by his 1988 visit 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.”

Solway Stories has been featured regularly on Jazz FM since its release. It was album of the week on Dinner Jazz with Mark Walker during the week of 17th May 2021 and has also been featured by Mark several times since. It has also been featured by Helen Mayhew on True Brit and by Chris Philips on The Blueprint.