BMJ Collective with Guest John Crawford – Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny
On 8th February I returned to photograph another fantastic evening at Black Mountain Jazz Club, held at the wonderful Melville Centre in Abergavenny.
This time the BMJ Collective welcomed guest pianist John Crawford for an evening filled with Latin rhythm, vibrant improvisation and the kind of musical chemistry that makes live jazz so exciting to photograph.
The Magic of Musical Chemistry
One of the most inspiring things about these concerts is watching how quickly the tutors — Jack, Nick and Ryan — connect with guest musicians they have never played with before. There is no rehearsal safety net, no long preparation, just trust, experience and instinct.
Within minutes of the first notes, the musicians were completely in sync, creating a performance that felt effortless, energetic and full of joy. As a photographer, these moments are gold — the glances between musicians, the smiles mid-solo, the shared rhythm and communication that happens without words.
A Night of Latin Groove
The evening had a strong Latin flavour, bringing a wonderful energy to the stage and the audience alike. The rhythm, movement and expressive playing created endless photographic moments, from intense concentration during solos to relaxed, playful interactions between the band members.
Capturing live jazz is always about storytelling — documenting not just the performance, but the atmosphere and the connection between musicians and audience.
Behind the Scenes
Alongside photographing the performance, I also filmed behind-the-scenes moments and sections of the concert. I’m looking forward to sharing those clips soon once editing time allows.
For now, the photographs from the evening offer a glimpse into the atmosphere and musicianship that made this such a memorable night.
Read the Full Review
Music journalist Ian Mann has written a full review of the concert for The Jazz Mann, which you can read here:
BMJ Collective with Guest John Crawford – Black Mountain Jazz, Abergavenny
On 8th February I returned to photograph another fantastic evening at Black Mountain Jazz Club, held at the wonderful Melville Centre in Abergavenny.
This time the BMJ Collective welcomed guest pianist John Crawford for an evening filled with Latin rhythm, vibrant improvisation and the kind of musical chemistry that makes live jazz so exciting to photograph.
The Magic of Musical Chemistry
One of the most inspiring things about these concerts is watching how quickly the tutors — Jack, Nick and Ryan — connect with guest musicians they have never played with before. There is no rehearsal safety net, no long preparation, just trust, experience and instinct.
Within minutes of the first notes, the musicians were completely in sync, creating a performance that felt effortless, energetic and full of joy. As a photographer, these moments are gold — the glances between musicians, the smiles mid-solo, the shared rhythm and communication that happens without words.
A Night of Latin Groove
The evening had a strong Latin flavour, bringing a wonderful energy to the stage and the audience alike. The rhythm, movement and expressive playing created endless photographic moments, from intense concentration during solos to relaxed, playful interactions between the band members.
Capturing live jazz is always about storytelling — documenting not just the performance, but the atmosphere and the connection between musicians and audience.
Behind the Scenes
Alongside photographing the performance, I also filmed behind-the-scenes moments and sections of the concert. I’m looking forward to sharing those clips soon once editing time allows.
For now, the photographs from the evening offer a glimpse into the atmosphere and musicianship that made this such a memorable night.
Read the Full Review
Music journalist Ian Mann has written a full review of the concert for The Jazz Mann, which you can read here: https://www.thejazzmann.com/reviews/review/bmj-collective-with-guest-john-crawford-black-mountain-jazz-melville-centre-abergavenny-08-02-2026
To experience more of the atmosphere from the evening, take a look at the full photo gallery here: https://kasiaociepa-photographer.co.uk/bmj-collective-with-john-crawford-february-2026-1
To experience more of the atmosphere from the evening, take a look at the full photo gallery here: https://kasiaociepa-photographer.co.uk/bmj-collective-with-john-crawford-february-2026-1
