A powerful new jazz fusion outfit performing exciting originals by Ravi Rajani and John Cervantes. Lyricist/poet Ben Mellor adds political polemics, to give this band contemporary bite. Originally based in Manchester, they have performed at Manchester International Festival 2007 and Manchester Jazz Festival 2007, as well as venues such as Matt and Phred's Jazz Club and Charlie Wright's International Bar. Fusion was not forsaken. Current Affairs dissected the more exploratory side of the genre. - Jazzwise.com on MJF07
[Ben Mellor's] presence soon elevated the mood...into the kind of stirring and idealistic underground opposition meeting that could overthrow a regime...This was extremely exciting stuff...No matter how many pseudo-Geldofs spout in the music press about their frustration over carbon emissions or world poverty or repressed minorities, it remains a rare thing that an audience can have their eyes and ears opened during a simple live performance. Current Affairs played a gig on Monday that really taught their listeners something new. A fresh perspective on modern youth? ‘Little Red Riding Hoodie’. Social comment on gun crime and racism and their links to big business? Try ‘Trident’. Wondering about the importance of the media in our lives? Listen to Mellor spit “Television will not make life taste better". Leaving Matt and Phred’s on Monday...I had a head full of radical and proactive change. - Manchestermusic.co.uk Benjamin Mellor studied English & Drama at Manchester University, and currently works as a writer, performer and workshop facilitator. He recently toured the UK with I Hear Voices ("their show is a bold move into that exciting area where performance, poetry, spoken word and street music meet theatre to create something wholly new." - Manchester Evening News). He has performed theatre and spoken word at the Latitude Festival ("One of the country’s biggest emerging talents" – Latitude Festival), Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the RSC’s New Work Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon. He won the 2005 Embryo Award for Best Poetry at Studio Salford, and in September 2006 was the joint winner (with Rob Gee) of the Lit Up Festival slam. He is currently also working on a solo show called Voices of Dissent, first developed during a six month residency at Contact Theatre last year. He is published in Corporate Watch’s 10th Anniversary collection, This Room is Sponsored by… and his first short story 'Boston Diptych' was published last year by Route as part of their Brief Lives collection.
Ravi Rajani studied jazz guitar with Dutch master Peter Nieuwerf at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. He subsequently worked as a musician in London and New York before becoming an active member of the North West jazz scene, performing with musicians such as Steve Brown, Neil Yates, Frank Grime and Myke Wilson. He now lives in London and divides his time between gigging, composing and teaching.
John Cervantes studied Music at Manchester University before immersing himself in the North West jazz scene, performing regularly at Matt and Phred's with his own projects as well as accompanying musicians such as Myke Wilson and Lea DeLaria. He moved to London in September07.