LEVY/ROBSON INTERNATIONAL QUARTET

Formed in NYC in 2017, US saxophonist JED LEVY and British guitarist PHIL ROBSON bring their international quartet to SoundCellar, featuring Italian drummer ROBERTO GATTO and British bassist MARK HODGSON. Their innovative, melodic jazz blends tradition with contemporary grooves, captivating audiences at iconic venues worldwide.

This gig will take place at The Grasshopper,
139 – 141 Bournemouth Rd, Poole BH14 9HT.

Please note: If parking in either of the car parks at The Grasshopper, you must register your vehicle on one of the dedicated terminals at the bar or in the function room.

Ticket link below

This musical partnership was formed in New York City in 2017 between the highly acclaimed US saxophonist JED LEVY (Jaki Byard, Jack McDu/, Mike Clark, Tom Harrell etc) and multi-award-winning UK born guitarist PHIL ROBSON (Mark Turner, David Liebman, Billy Hart, Partisans, etc), who was living in NYC at the time. The American quartet featuring Peter Slavov and Clarence Penn quickly began to become a regular feature in the city’s iconic venues such as Smalls, Birdland, 55 Bar etc, as well as touring in the UK, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Northern California and more. Robson relocated to Ireland in 2020, but since that time the collaboration has continued with various European incarnations of the band.

The current line-up features one of Europe’s most celebrated drummers, from Rome, ROBERTO GATTO (Freddie Hubbard, John Scofield, Joe Zawinul, Michael Brecker, etc) and the incredible UK bassist MARK HODGSON (Randy Brecker, Cedar Walton, Eddie Henderson, Greg Osby, etc) who is one of the most in demand bassists on the contemporary jazz scene today.

The quartet plays original music penned by both Levy and Robson. The music is innovative and contemporary whilst remaining highly melodic and groovy, with a strong sense of tradition mixed in with the diverse characteristics of each composer.

“This was high-powered jazz, not by dint of frenetic pace, volume or assertiveness but by the beauty and coherence of the quartet sound that was at once polished but fresh and lively. That’s a difficult poise to strike, even for musicians as able as these, yet for all that they were fully engaged, each seemed entirely in his element.” The Whitman Review of Wakefield Jazz Concert

“Added to the warmth of his sound and excellent command of the instrument, Levy is an impressive package deserving wider international recognition. Phil Robson is already gaining wider international recognition, as witnessed by the admiring comments on his playing from Peter Bernstein and Wayne Krantz to be found on his website. His great fluidity and fleet inventiveness were, as ever, balm for the ears.” London Jazz News

Jed Levy: Sax
Phil Robson: Guitar
Mark Hodgson: Bass
Roberto Gatto: Drums

Entry is £17.50 (no booking fee) in advance through the below link, or £20 on the door (cash or card).