Jazz@Kirkgate: Groove Crusade

26th July 2026 7:30pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Kirkgate Centre

Jazz@kirkgate presentsGroove Crusade

Back at Kirkgate after 2 years following their last exciting visit.

Tim Franks; drums, Rod Sinclair; guitar, David Gray; trombone

Pete Major; keyboards & vocals, Barry Rickarby; bass,

Stuart Johnson; tenor & soprano saxophones

https://groovecrusade.wordpress.com/audio-video/

Formed in 2019 as a result of a chance meeting between a saxophonist and a trombonist, depping on a pianist’s gig, a casual conversation between all three revealed a mutual love of the music of the Crusaders, for nigh on 50 years one of the world’s leading soul/funk/jazz/blues bands and session players for the likes of Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Randy Crawford, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Joe Cocker and Eric Clapton. Given that the front line of tenor saxophone and trombone was the Crusaders’ signature sound, allied to classic Fender Rhodes piano, it wasn’t long before a sizeable pad of transcriptions of their music was written, and Groove Crusade ventured out into the world to considerable critical acclaim – just in time for the pandemic!

After the inevitable two-year hiatus the band resumed where it left off in the summer of 2022, remaining a labour of love from six of the North of England’s most experienced players and continuing to delight audiences with feel-good music, described by one punter as ‘jazz for people who don’t like jazz!’.

Quotes

“We absolutely loved it! I think it’s one of my favourites so far!! Stuart’s information throughout was really interesting and I thought Peter had a lovely voice, a great tone. I’ve never seen trombone played like that before – what an absolute character – and not forgetting the other very talented musicians; all together a wondrous combination”

“I think that sums up really well as to how thewhole audience felt……..from start to finish it was simplywonderful to be in the company of such great musicians playing such great music with such a rich sound, celebrating the Crusaders. So, on behalf of myselfand the whole audience please accept ahuge thankyoufrom all of us. I thought both sets were great, with lots of variety and super solos. Some standouts for me were;

Lilies of the Nile; Rhapsody and Blues; Soul Shadows & Last Call.

Plus, of course, Street Life, with Pete on vocals, which was just great”

“Fabulous night on Saturday, my husband a massive fan of the Crusaders, never dreamed in 2023 would be able to see a group of great musicians doing them such justice”