IMA nominated musician John Crawford was born in London of English/Spanish Parents. His father played Blues piano, and this is the first thing he learnt to play. His mother would introduce him to Latin music of all kinds, and he has gone on to perform at Montreal Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, San Sebastian Jazz Festival,  Getxo Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scotts, Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the 606 club, and Royal Albert Hall amongst others. His latest album as leader "Room for Dancing" (Elsden Music) will be released on 19th April 2024 following the launch at the 606 on 18th April. His 2012 release "Ulia River of Time" was nominated in the USA by the Independent Music Awards for best album in the Jazz category, and the following album "Times and Tides" was described as "Latin flavoured Jazz from maestro of the genre" by Jazz Journal.

.. .. In the Latin world he has worked with percussion legends Airto Moreira and Giovanni Hidalgo, Eumir Deodato, Ed Motta, Tito Allen, Herman Oliveira, Henry Fiol, Luis Felipe Gonzalez, Frankie Morales (Tito Puentes last singer), Jimmy Bosch, Bobby Matos, Adalberto Santiago, Luisito Carrion, Mariano Civico, Cano Estremera, Jack Costanzo, Nancy Abalos and Carlos Irigoyen, Maelo Ruiz, Johnny Blas, Jesus Alemany's Cubanismo, Orlando Watusi and Danny Silva, as well as UK based artists like Snowboy, Luna Cohen, Emily Saunders, Guida da Palma and Jazzinho, Negrocan, Sirius B, Manteca, Shantijazzworld, Nois, Liliana Chachian, Gustavo Marques, Jandira Silva, Mr Hermano, Orquesta La Clave, Roberto Pla, Robin Jones, Samara and Viramundo. He was also a founder member of the popular band Grupo X, and a member of the Pop/Jazz crossover project ISQ

As a jazz pianist he has performed with many jazz artists such as Tony Coe, Tina May, Ola Onabule, Norma Winstone, Alec Dankworth,  Shirley Smart, Duncan Lamont, Pinise Saul, Lucky Ranku , Ramesh Shotham,  Sax Appeal, Julie Dexter, Chris Batchelor, Sandy Cressman, Lily Dior, Polly Gibbons, Jason Yarde, John Etheridge, Dave Pike, Harvie S, Dave O'Higgins, Tony Kofi, Billy Bang, Noel Mccalla, Roger Beaujolais, Tommaso Starace, Shirley Smart, Gilad Atzmon, Paul Jayasinha's Shanti Jazz World , Victoria Newton, Clement Regert, Adam Glasser, Christian Brewer, Rowland Sutherland, Byron Wallen, Sarah Moule, Shireen Francis, Trudy Kerr, Annie Whitehead, Katriona Taylor, Parry Ray, Daniela Clynes, Esther Bennett, Linley Weir, Zena James, Michele Drees, Eleonora Claps, Anjali Perrin, Orla Murphy, Rosanna Brandi, and Lydia Garrow

He has also worked with artists from the pop world such as Bjork, Tanita Tikarem, Lewis Taylor, Us3,  The Braxtons, Andy Williams, Kirsty McColl, Rui Velos, Babyface, Dina Carroll, Gina Foster and Beverly Skeete.

 

John has always had a passionate interest in dances of all types, and this has led him to work with such artists as Heather Cornell, Andrew Nemr, Ana Dueñas Leon, Max Pollack, Junior Laniyan and Tobias Tak

In 2010, the book "Exploring Latin Piano" written by John with Tim Richards was published by world renowed music publisher Schott Music, and inmediately garnered rave reviews. This was followed by the book "Brazilian Piano Collection" which coincided with John performing in Sao Carlos, Brazil in the Choro festival "Chorando Sem Parar". In 2015 the book "Grooves For Two" was published by Oxford University Press and features one of John's compositions, "Club Del Campesino".

 

In 2017, John's first book for Oxford University Press, "Piano Globetrotters" was published.

"A glorious piano solo...everyone there that night agreed that a man to watch out for is pianist John Crawford, a skillful and imaginative soloist"

John Childs, Jazzwise Magazine

"hypnotized by the enchanting piano playing of John Crawford"

paul j youngman www.vinilemania.net

"followed by John Crawford whose piano playing is a delight all through the record"

Dan Mather www.musicweb-international.com






"The piano solo by John Crawford deserves special mention...floats along beautifully with all the right notes in the right order - it's tasteful, uncluttered and musical Finding a Musical Director as talented as John Crawford (one of the finest pianists ever to set foot on a piano) is, however, a huge plus"

Mel Dean reviewing "Sangue Latino 3"

"John Crawford's piano solo on the same piece was built around repeated single notes so deftly played that he seemed to be mimicking a horn"

John Fordham, The Guardian, January 2005

"Pianist John Crawford had several impressive spots with his light-fingered runs, occasionally straying from the overall tone, though not excessively so, then subtly blending samba with reggae in a striking combination of creative timing and diverse rhythms."

John Philips, November 2007