Benet McLean Quartet - Photos and Reviews - Worldwide Artists Ltd. UK

The London Ensemble provides exceptional musicians for very special events who will

deliver truly memorable, inspired performances, whether it be a black-tie corporate reception, private party or wedding.

The London Ensemble are experts at event music. Your event will be enhanced with top, professional musicians, all of whom are passionate about live music. Nothing is left to

chance in preparation or on the day and the right performers will be assigned your event.

The London Ensemble performs in various line-ups from a string quartet up to full orchestra, providing all of your musical requirements, whether it be background music or after-dinner entertainment. Just let us know what you require (soloists also available).

Recent highlights include the 'Cartier Polo World Cup' in St. Moritz, the 'WWF Royal Gala' at Hampton Court Palace, the 'Palisades Grand Opening' at the 'Godolphin Ballroom' in Dubai, 'Taste of London' in Regents Park and the U. S. Navy Ball at the National Maritime Museum.

Other highlights include a gala performance at Hampton Court Palace alongside Dame Kiri te Kanawa and José Carreras as well as corporate receptions at venues including Downing Street, Kensington Palace, Lancaster House, the Honourable Artillery Company, the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, the Royal Air Force Club and at five-star hotels such as the Savoy, Claridge's, the Waldorf, Grosvenor House, the Ritz, the Dorchester and the Hilton.

Clients include Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan, Diageo, IMG, Browne Jacobson, Sarasin Chiswell, Halcrow Group, Faber Music, Geronimo, Cornwell Management, PHI Partners, Twickenham Experience, LK Bennett, Habitat, Dream Events, Brainstorm, Brand Events, Eventure, Outersanctum, CLD Events, Evening Standard, Estée Lauder, WWF and Cartier.

London Ensemble musicians are highly experienced professionals who have performed and recorded under such luminary conductors as Sir Colin Davis, Abbado, Haitink, Rostropovich and Giulini at international festivals and concert halls across the world.

The London Ensemble has also recorded several television / cinema commercials for international advertising agencies such as FCB Paris, Lowe, Saatchi & Saatchi and Grey, productions by the BBC, ITV, the National Geographic Channel and the Discovery Channel, soundtracks for Gangway Films, I-Dream Productions and New Line Cinema US as well as recordings for Warner Chappell, Universal Music and Sony Music - also appearances

alongside contemporary artists including Sir Elton John, Westlife, Il Divo and Rod Stewart.

The London Ensemble is the group to talk to for live event music. Every detail will be covered beforehand.

You can depend on the London Ensemble to deliver performances with style and flair, whatever the occasion.

For rates, availability and bookings please call Catherine on 020 7793 7426 or email

'Benet McLean is a rare breed of musician; he sings with gusto, verve and energy and applies these same qualities to his piano playing which is of truly Herculean proportions.

A true virtuoso from the Art Tatum point of view, he can shine on his own and with a band. His ensemble playing combines impressive influences from the 19th and 20th century classical piano tradition in to the influence of pianist Kenny Kirkland with a huge respect for bebop.

But McLean is also possessed with the ability to combine these influences with hop-hop and contemporary popular music into contemporary jazz of the highest order.

Benet McLean is musically fearless with the facility and skill to back it up!

Watch this guy - he is a massive talent.'

Julian Joseph, UK Pianist and Composer

'Benet McLean is one of the finest pianists on the modern jazz horizon. He has a thorough grasp of history with eyes and ears tuned to future sounds. Look for great things from this young man.'

Jean Toussaint, US Saxophonist (Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers 1983-1988)

'Clichés (For Another Day) is a CD that crackles with energy, talent and originality.'

Humphrey Lyttelton, BBC Radio 2 - Click here to listen

'Quality, up-beat entertainment that will appeal to music-lovers of all ages. Piano virtuoso Benet McLean will be providing an evening of cutting-edge entertainment with his talented quartet. How many of us can say that we have had to choose between becoming a solo concert violinist or a professional jazz musician at the age of 20?! It seems he has made the right decision, because he has gone from strength to strength; performing with a number of high-profile bands at equally distinguished venues, such as The Vortex and the Barbican . . . . McLean's mixture of swing, hip-hop, jazz and classical music never fails to enthuse and excite!'

The Evening Standard

'We can't wait to have the Benet McLean Quartet here with us; it isn't often that you can get to see a group with so much extraordinary talent!'

Peter Swann (Owner of one of the U.K.'s premier Jazz Venues - 'The Sands Venue')

'Benet McLean, despite my sniffiness about the suspiciously glib nature of the pre-publicity tag 'bebop to hip-hop', produced almost precisely that musical mixture. McLean himself is a class act: apparently capable of playing anything he can conceive in what is an extremely fertile musical imagination, he shone in all his solo passages, particularly in ballad material, which enabled him to stretch out harmonically and rhythmically until the resulting playing had all the startling coherency of spontaneous composition.'

The Vortex Jazz Review

'Extremely talented and soon to emerge as a major player on the world stage is pianist and vocalist Benet McLean. This young man's love for jazz is so deep that he HAD to put it onto CD. Mad skills!'

Courtney Pine, UK Saxophonist and Composer, BBC Radio 2 'Jazz Crusade'

'Recorded totally live in a few hours, this album of liberated jazz has a vibrancy & urgency rare even for this genre. Escorted by a crack team of Roger Crosdale - Saxophone, Chris Dodd - Bass and Nic France - Drums, Benet Mclean generates an environment condusive to creativity, drawing every drop of nuance from material and band-mates. Appreciation of the tunes, starting with "Tempo X", only grows as recognized by Humphrey Lyttleton, who has featured Benet on his Radio 2 show. A stormer!'

Keith Ames, Musician Magazine, Autumn '06 * * * * * (Five Stars)

'UK Jazz fans can no longer ignore the sounds of rap now that accomplished musicians like Benet McLean are incorporating it so skilfully into their albums. Check this album out!'

Jack Massarik, BBC Radio 3 'Jazz Line-up'

'We start off wailing with a new piano star, Benet McLean. This is 'Hip 16t'. . .Benet McLean and his quartet taking some giant steps in 2004. 'Hip16t' was Benet's tune, with himself ferocious at the piano and vocal, Roger Crosdale, tenor and vocal, Chris Dodd at the bass and Nic France on drums.'

Geoffrey Smith, BBC Radio 3 'Jazz Record Requests' - Click here to listen

'I spend my days hoping someone will ask me to recommend a rapper who can play piano like Art Tatum. Then I'll be able to say, 'Sure, here's Benet McLean's number, and by the way he has a great vibe and can really sing too.'

Django Bates, UK Pianist and Composer

'Fast-rising young pianist Benet McLean has a piano technique that seems to bring Art Tatum's music into the 21st century, drawing on classical music, postbop, hip-hop and beyond.'

The Guardian

'Muscular Contemporary Jazz. A fine quartet'

Time Out Magazine

'McLean's playing is very special'

Jazzwise Magazine

'A special talent and a genius'

Hoagy B. Carmichael (son of famed U.S. Songwriter Hoagy Carmichael)

'The most ear catching instrumental contribution comes from Benet Mclean's inventive pianism and vibrant touch at the keyboard. He creates a big impression!'

Kennie Mathieson, The Scotsman

'Pianist Benet McLean is both a sensitive group player and a gifted soloist. His improvisations are vibrant, percussive flashes of colour, full of trills and slurs, concise and witty. McLean launches himself into an McCoy Tyner-esque improvisation full of colourful chordal splashes and tumbling runs.'

Peter Marsh, BBC Jazz CD Review

'Benet is an improviser with a natural and fluid approach. His compositions are rich in colour and

mature. Clichés (For Another Day) is a great album!'

Steve Williamson, UK Saxophonist

'From his heart to the tips of his fingers, Benet takes the listener on a magical musical journey - genius!'

Dennis Rollins (Badbone and Co.)

'An incredible musical mind which is a great gift when combined with his excellent piano playing.'

Phillip Bent, UK Flautist

'An evil genius!!!'

Alex Garnett