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Kit Downes
Having been together since their first year at the Royal Academy of Music, the 'Kit Downes Trio' have been playing together since 2005. Their music concentrates on walking the fine line between improvisation and composition through an eclectic mix of influences. The band, featuring Calum Gourlay (Tommy Smith, Martin Speake, Tom Cawley) on bass and James Maddren (Marc Copland, Stan Sulzmann, Gwilym Simcock) on drums, has always been interested in making it's music accessible, whilst not sacrificing any of it's intellect - and doing so through new and original music. It has done this at the London Jazz Festival 2008 and 2009, Ronnie Scotts British Jazz Festival, BBC Radio 3 Live Broadcast, Glasgow Jazz Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Inspired by a wide range of influences, ranging from Bela Bartok to Keith Jarrett to Rufus Wainwright, the trio endeavors to both celebrate the classic piano trio tradition as well as develop it. They released their first album on Basho Records in November 2009.
Awards
Jazzwise Album of the Year 2008 - Empirical Mojo Jazz Album of the Year 2008 - Empirical EBU Jazz Award 2008 - Empirical Peter Whittingham Award 2008 - Empirical BBC Jazz Award 2008 - Rising Star Award British Jazz Awards Nominee 2008/09 - Rising Star Yamaha Jazz Award 2009 Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2009 (Jazzwise Magazine)
Gear
Hammond XK3
Tags
Norma Winstone, Kit Downes: Outpost Of Dreams
by Neri Pollastri
Nato in modo quasi accidentale --la pianista abituale della cantante non era disponibile e le serviva un sostituto --quest'incontro tra generazioni diverse di artisti britannici ha subito funzionato talmente bene da dare in fretta questo eccellente frutto. La cantante è Norma Winstone, ottant'anni passati e portati benissimo, il pianista Kit Downes, trentotto anni; la prima ha alle spalle un'invidiabile carriera che l'ha vista al fianco di artisti come Kenny Wheeler e John Taylor (clicca qui per la recensione della recente ...
Continue ReadingBill Frisell, Kit Downes, Andrew Cyrille: Breaking the Shell
by Alberto Bazzurro
Ogni tanto Bill Frisell si concede qualche scappatella fuori dai patrii confini (che già per loro conto variano, vedi il recente Orchestras). In questo nuovo, singolare lavoro, uscito in realtà a oltre due anni dalla sua incisione (maggio 2022), il grande chitarrista recupera scorie (nell'accezione più alta del termine) di quel sano sperimentalismo che, all'interno della sua produzione abituale (più o meno, come si diceva), non gli fa sostanzialmente più compagnia da tempo. Intendiamoci: l'ex ragazzo di Baltimora ...
Continue ReadingBill Frisell / Andrew Cyrille / Kit Downes: Breaking the Shell
by Mike Jurkovic
When in as unique a setting as St. Luke in the Fields, the English village-like church on Hudson Street in Greenwich Village, it only figures that guitarist Bill Frisell, pipe organist Kit Downes and drummer Andrew Cyrille would rise to the distinct occasion and create something equally anomalous. A grand host of noir sci-fi themes and motifs run through Breaking the Shell. And it is awesome to hear. The trio is in an active, real-time thought experiment: what music will emerge, ...
Continue ReadingNorma Winstone, Kit Downes: Outpost Of Dreams
by Chris May
Any release by Norma Winstone is an event and Outpost Of Dreams, her much anticipated first album since 2018's Descansado (Songs For Films) (ECM), rises to expectations. It presents her in a new duo setting with pianist Kit Downes, a star in his own right who is equally on point as an accompanist. His sensitive, empathetic playing here is a delight in itself. Outpost Of Dreams was recorded in Italy in 2023 with ECM's Manfred Eicher producing. ...
Continue ReadingDavid Preston: Purple / Black Vol. One
by Neil Duggan
Guitarist David Preston, one third of Preston-Glasgow-Lowe, has previously released two recordings with that trio, exhibiting an intense fusion-based style. He is often found sharing on-stage credentials with musicians such as Emma Rawicz and Melody Gardot. For Purple / Black Vol. One, his debut recording as leader, he has opted for a simpler, more distinctive soundscape which emphasises atmosphere and texture. Despite this change of style, Kevin Glasgow remains as electric bassist and they are joined by two ...
Continue ReadingAlex Hitchcock: Dream Band: Live in London
by Glenn Astarita
This is a bold expedition into the heart of progressive jazz, rendered across a vast canvas of three enthralling nights at the Vortex Jazz Club in London. This three-CD collection is not just a mere album, but a grand, audacious gathering of talents which blurs the line between a larger ensemble setup and a more intimate, modern band experience. Hitchcock's nifty approach to ensemble creation is at the core of this live recording. Rather than sticking ...
Continue ReadingAlex Hitchcock: Dream Band Live In London
by Chris May
Viewed in retrospect, the abiding memory of 2023 is that it produced too many jazz albums prioritizing technical facility over emotional engagement. In London, New York and elsewhere (but not, so it seemed, in Chicago), musicians appeared to focus on virtuosity rather than feeling. Dullsville. For the record, some of those albums that did put soul on, at the least, an equal footing with cerebralism, are to be found in the Best Albums of 2023 round-up which can be read ...
Continue ReadingJazz Day At The New Ross Piano Festival with Kit Downes and Scott Flanigan Set for September 20-24, 2023
Source:
Connie Tantrum
Five years ago the New Ross Piano Festival introduced jazz piano to what had been a purely classical piano festival. So far it has featured Enrico Pieranunzi, Lars Jansson, Gwilym Simcock, Vadim Neselovskyi, Phil Ware, Jim Doherty and Greg Felton. This year its Kit Downes and Scott Flanigan. About Kit Downes Kit Downes is a BBC Jazz Award winning, Mercury Music Award nominated, solo recording artist for ECM Records. He has performed all over the world playing piano, church organ ...
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Mercury Prize-Nominated Pianist Kit Downes Interviewed at All About Jazz
Source:
All About Jazz
Kit Downes' career as a jazz musician has, indeed, taken off in a very short time. He's still in his mid-20s, but such is his talent and appetite for music that Downes has become one of the most sought-after keyboardist in Britain, and he's a key presence in a series of cutting-edge bands, with The Golden Age Of Steam, Troyka, Big Cat and his own Kit Downes Trio all springing readily to mind. While the intelligent but unassuming musician has ...
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“Downes seems to have become everyone's favourite young pianist. These eight, slightly impressionistic originals are unpretentiously brilliant and full of subtle touches. Downes, bassist Calum Gourlay and drummer James Maddren are all players to watch.” - Dave Gelly, Observer
Primary Instrument
Keyboards
Location
London
Willing to teach
Beginner to advanced
Credentials/Background
Private only £20 an hour
Photos
Music
Skip James
From: Label Love Vol. 5: The Jazz...By Kit Downes
