KIT DOWNES - Tricko
Coup Perdu Records CPCD003 CD/LP
Kit Downes (pno/organ) Lucy Railton (cello)
Recorded Early 2015
In 2008 pianist Kit Downes emerged from the group Empirical, won the "Rising Star "category at The BBC Jazz Awards and became one of the most in demand musicians on the UK jazz scene. By the end of 2009 he had recorded "Golden" alongside Callum Gourlay on bass and drummer James Maddren, a trio album of such magnitude that not only was it lauded throughout the jazz world,it was nominated for "The Mercury Music Prize the following year. His fresh approach to improvisation and composing have kept him in the forefront of the scene with countless gigs, both here and in Europe plus ten further albums under his own leadership plus seven with other bands.
Cellist Lucy Railton is from the worlds of contemporary classical music,experimental concepts and electronic composition. She is the Co-Director of The London Contemporary Music Festival. The two musicians first met during their time at The Royal Academy Of Music.
The work on this album is finely crafted,thoughtful and of high artistic merit, although far more about composition than improvisation. It does hold the listeners attention but it is only the dissonance of the piano at times that keeps it within the bounds that most people would recognise within the broad church of jazz.
There are seven themes on the album, all of which are by Kit Downes . Each one is a piano/cello conversation, the organ being used very sparingly. Every piece is born from places,experiences or people in the composers life. The album opens with "Jinn" described as a smoke spirit that is impossible to catch.. "Alliri" has a chilling cello opening and draws on the composers love of Ravel. The dark and brooding "Waira" is based on a lurking mountain demon from Japanese folklore. The title track "Tricko" is upbeat, hypnotic and a tribute to the composer John Adams.The sonorous beauty of the cello is well demonstrated on "Arcane" based on the work of an unknown magician. "Helkalen" brings proceedings to a close and portrays a small cold town very far from the rest of the world and seldom visited.
This album is at the far extremes of the pianists output to date but does warrant repeated listening.
Reviewed By Jim Burlong
Coup Perdu Records CPCD003 CD/LP
Kit Downes (pno/organ) Lucy Railton (cello)
Recorded Early 2015
In 2008 pianist Kit Downes emerged from the group Empirical, won the "Rising Star "category at The BBC Jazz Awards and became one of the most in demand musicians on the UK jazz scene. By the end of 2009 he had recorded "Golden" alongside Callum Gourlay on bass and drummer James Maddren, a trio album of such magnitude that not only was it lauded throughout the jazz world,it was nominated for "The Mercury Music Prize the following year. His fresh approach to improvisation and composing have kept him in the forefront of the scene with countless gigs, both here and in Europe plus ten further albums under his own leadership plus seven with other bands.
Cellist Lucy Railton is from the worlds of contemporary classical music,experimental concepts and electronic composition. She is the Co-Director of The London Contemporary Music Festival. The two musicians first met during their time at The Royal Academy Of Music.
The work on this album is finely crafted,thoughtful and of high artistic merit, although far more about composition than improvisation. It does hold the listeners attention but it is only the dissonance of the piano at times that keeps it within the bounds that most people would recognise within the broad church of jazz.
There are seven themes on the album, all of which are by Kit Downes . Each one is a piano/cello conversation, the organ being used very sparingly. Every piece is born from places,experiences or people in the composers life. The album opens with "Jinn" described as a smoke spirit that is impossible to catch.. "Alliri" has a chilling cello opening and draws on the composers love of Ravel. The dark and brooding "Waira" is based on a lurking mountain demon from Japanese folklore. The title track "Tricko" is upbeat, hypnotic and a tribute to the composer John Adams.The sonorous beauty of the cello is well demonstrated on "Arcane" based on the work of an unknown magician. "Helkalen" brings proceedings to a close and portrays a small cold town very far from the rest of the world and seldom visited.
This album is at the far extremes of the pianists output to date but does warrant repeated listening.
Reviewed By Jim Burlong
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