Jazz Northampton - NCJazz - promoting contemporary jazz in Northampton and Northants
Thursday 22 March 2012
The Kit Downes Quintet
Pianist and composer, Kit Downes, exploded onto the British Jazz Scene by winning the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star in 2008, and a British Jazz Award in 2010.
He then formed his trio of award-winning bassist, Calum Gourlay, and rising drum star, James Maddren. The trio's debut album Golden was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize. Tonight, the trio has expanded into a Quintet and includes James Allsopp, bass clarinet and tenor saxophone, and Lucy Railton, cello. The band has spent some time developing its personal sound, using melody, inspired from a range of sources ranging from Bela Bartok to Bill Frisell. The band has an engaging sound that does not sacrifice its integrity.
The group has recorded live sessions for BBC Jazz on 3, BBC 6 Music and Jamie Cullum on BBC 2 and appeared at the NattJazz Festival in Norway, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and Glasgow Jazz Festival and have toured throughout Germany and Austria.
Currently, the band has a number of ongoing projects, including: a Cheltenham Jazz Festival Commission for an animation project with Lesley Barnes; a Commonwealth Festival commission for 'Pianorama' 2010; the Commonwealth Festival for Fluid Piano 2011; and the Britten Sinfonia and Future Projects 2011.
"Kit Downes is a remarkably distinctive player.... his stunning technique is matched by a rhythmic flexibility given full scope by his rapport with Gourlay and, especially, Maddren." Ray Comiskey, Irish Times
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