Getting to know: Steve Banks

Was it always jazz for you - what sort of stuff did you grow up listening to?

I grew up loving blues guitar, especially Stevie Ray Vaughan and B.B. King, alongside Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, and others from my dad’s record collection. When I was introduced to Robben Ford and Scott Henderson by my guitar teacher, it opened a whole new world. The harmony was exciting and mysterious, and, as I began exploring further, it led me to Miles Davis, Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, and Wes Montgomery.

Who are your main influences now, and can you give us the heads up on an album or an artist you like that you think we might not have come across and should check out?

I’m especially inspired by the jazz orchestras of Maria Schneider and Nikki Iles. The expansive, soaring, rich harmonies, beautiful melodies, and incredible improvisations. I’ve learned so much as a composer alongside Kenny Wheeler and Fred Hersch, and I was lucky to spend some time with Bill Frisell last week after supporting him with my trio. Bill is a huge inspiration for me, as is John Scofield. Sorry, that’s more than one!

You’re part of Sara Colman’s band, and we loved your Joni Mitchell celebration gig last year. How does the vibe of playing in a band compare to the buzz of leading your own quintet and performing your own music?

Recording and performing with Sara is extremely special for me. Sara’s musicianship including her incredible tone, expressive improvisations, and how she communicates the emotion and narrative within a song, is completely captivating. I’ve been playing with Sara for around fifteen years, and it still knocks me out. I particularly enjoy the supportive role of the guitar amongst the sounds of Sara’s band, which often includes a jazz sextet with a string quartet.

Presenting my own music is a thrill for many reasons—realising my compositions as these incredible musicians take the music to new levels, but I also love being just one member of the band!

We love the album Emboldened and how it flows as a complete piece (trying not to call it a concept album!). It feels like a response to the pandemic. Can you walk us through the inspiration behind the music?

Thank you! The Emboldened suite was inspired by the positive response of individuals and society to adversity, with three movements: Fear, Belief, and Unity. My main focus in composition is melody, which is also what usually attracts me first in other musicians. I’m not trying to create complicated music. I’d like the music to be absorbing for an audience and for melodies to uplift and stay with you. I also love harmony and strong grooves, providing a tapestry for the energy and spontaneity of improvisation. I have musicians in my quintet who interact consistently, supporting and encouraging each other, propelling this to a very high level. 

Who’s in your quintet, and how long have you all been playing together?

We’ve been playing together since 2021. We’re also all involved in various combinations within other projects. For example, Rebecca Nash (piano) and I are part of Sara Colman’s band and are very comfortable playing together as harmony instruments. Rebecca is so exciting to play with as she’s always reaching for something real and is so connected to the moment.

I’ve been a fan of Sam Crockatt (sax) for a long time before he joined the band. You can hear the influence of giants in his playing, but he has a language and expansive expression of his own. His tone is so rich, combined with a childlike joy, deep focus, and irresistible rhythmic propulsion. This rhythm combined with Henrik Jensen (bass) is so powerful.

Henrik is everything I look for in a bassist. When we were mixing the Emboldened album, I was regularly asking for the bass to be turned up! Henrik is the harmonic and rhythmic centre of our collective sound, constantly encouraging and inspiring us all. His solos are also magic.

Of course, the groove and energy of the ensemble is enhanced by Mark Whitlam (drums), who is a truly consummate musician I have played with in many projects. Mark’s expansive knowledge of music is matched by his sensitivity in always providing exactly what the music needs. Collectively, it’s an ensemble which now moves together, connected in one sound and emotion.

What can we expect from your show at The Bear?

I’m excited to be returning to The Bear, which immediately became one of my favourite clubs when performing there for the first time last year. Alongside music from Emboldened, we’ll be playing other compositions of mine, including a Brazilian Samba, celebrating the inspiration of a close friend. A tune I wrote for Sam called ‘Crockatt Man’ with an Afro 6/8 groove. I tried capturing some of Sam’s energy in this tune while providing him with a launchpad to take off!

Also, ‘Flying High’ with high-energy, up-tempo swing, and a tune inspired by Saunton Sands, a three-mile stretch of beautiful coastline in North Devon. You’ll hopefully be transported onto the sand dunes, looking out across the waves, or perhaps taking flight with one of the sea birds…