AUCKLAND JAZZ AND BLUES CLUB 28/4/26
BENJAMIN SHEPHERD TRIO
Benjamin Shepherd – upright and electric bass
Kevin Fields – piano
Elijah White – drums
Benjamin was born in Wellington and started playing bass at seven. At eighteen Ben moved to Los Angeles to study at the California Institute of Arts. His tutors were Charlie Haden, Alphonso Johnson and, Darek Oles.
Ben said “I was fortunate to become one of the most versatile and in demand bassists in LA.”
Kevin sparkling like Alan Broadbent …. with a great sense of swing …. bass drums and piano in unison …. improvising over the whole range of the bass like sunshine sparkling on a summer sea.
“Light as a Feather” by Stanley Clarke and Chick Corea. A focused improvisation reaching out to a wider embrace. Elijah White took a solo over the full range of the drums. A beautiful interaction between the musicians … exploding in a summer storm. What Ben pulls out of the bass is amazing.
Ben changed to five string electric bass for his own composition (dedicated to Ben’s baby daughter).Like being wrapped in a warm blanket …. showcasing Ben’s Stanley Clarke influenced soloing …. this was amazing both lyrical and melodic ….the best bass playing I have heard since the Herbie Hancock concert in Auckland…. Ben then changed to upright bass …. rocking like Ray Brown driving the drums and piano… riding on the storm …. Ben added something of his own … then crashed to earth.
Herbie Hancock “One finger snap” …. featuring Bens amazing melodic soloing on the upright bass… Kevin Fields finding glittering pathways …. while Elijah pulled out all stops ,showing his skill over the full range of the drums.
“Tell me a bedtime story” (Herbie Hancock). envolved into a percussive musical kaliderscope …. with Ben’s playing showing influences of Stanley Clarke combined with a high level intensity of his own.
Kevin featured on the Bill Evans composition “Time remembers” ….a lyrical sensitive beauty (in the style of Alan Broadbent.)
The trio finished with the Monk tune”I mean you”. Elijah drumming like a dancer…Kevin gave his own take ..black and blue hammers crashing into bright bold colours.
….while Ben displayed a fluid rocking rhythm.
GT
