Kit Downes Trio 'Golden'; Mercury Nomination

I'm so glad that Kit has been nominated for the Mercury Prize. His mother is a former work colleague of mine. He's a great young musician.

So have you listened to the CD? What do you think? Do you think others here will like it?

I have been playing it for a while now. It's not bad and glad to see the "token" jazz nomination from Mercury. Lots of competition on the jazz trio front so the boy did well.

Have you tried the new album from Phronesis yet, Alive? They got the front cover of Jazzwise this month and a good review or two. Looking forward to listening to it when it arrives tomorrow. I really like their last album Green Delay.

"Have you tried the new album from Phronesis yet, Alive?"

No I haven't, but will keep my ears open.

I'm not sure what the Mercury Prize really means, except I'm sure Kit would use the money well if he were to win, and I'm sure the exposure will be welcome. I'd admit 'Golden' is by no means 'perfect', (not entirely convinced by the bass player), but at 24 Kit appears to be developing his own voice, and I like the quirky nature of some of his tunes.

I recommended Kit a few times to Naim, but to no avail (also recommended Julian Siegel, but I guess Naim have their own agenda). I guess I have to be careful here, though, as Kit is my wife's cousin.

Graham,

I agree with you that Kit would be a good artist to have on Naim so maybe now that he has a bit more exposure who knows what could happen next time round. I am going to go and see him in September when he plays Brighton jazz club so will be good to hear it live.

Sadly I think chances of Kit winning are tiny as Mercury always pick a bigger more commercial act. I would be delighted if I were wrong though.

As for Phronesis, if you buy from the Edition Records website you can get the CD and 24 bit wav files for I think 14 quid.

Cheers

I have a CD of piano duets featuring Kit Downes and Tom Cawley, which is very enjoyable -bought at the recent Curios concert in York. I can't see Kit's trio winning the Mercury, as the token jazz act never does, but the publicity is surely a good thing. Might try to pick up the CD when I hit Record Collector in Broomhill later today.

no agenda graham.

very aware of Kit's talents. very happy for him! well deserved.

he was a member of Empirical before we had the pleasure of working with them, remember?

amd i hope to work with him in some capacity in the future.

apologies Simon, I didn't mean 'hidden agenda' (i.e. negative), I just meant I'm sure Naim Label have their work cut out with so much fine talent around at present.

Yes, I remember Kit playing with Empirical.

FWIW, Kit is playing Norwich Arts centre in April 2011, and various other places around the country.

thanks, Graham

"no agenda graham"

apologies Simon: my comment about Naim label having an agenda came across in the wrong manner. I did,'t mean "hidden agenda", I really meant that you were probably spoilt for choice - some fine talent around at the moment.

yes, I do remember Kit playing with Empirical.

FWIW, Kits trio will be playing Norwich Arts Centre in April, and other dates around the country.

Quite a few other dates coming up this side of Christmas as well. I am going to try Brighton more than likely.
8 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@fasching jazz club stockholm, GB
10 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@brighton jazz club brighton, GB
11 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@KINGS PLACE (part of F-IRE Season) london, GB
22 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@limerick jazz society limerick, IE
24 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@navan arts centre navan, IE
25 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@belfast jazz belfast, IE
26 Sep 2010 20:00
piano trio@jj’s dublin, IE
5 Oct 2010 20:30
piano trio@606 london, UNITED KINGDOM
9 Oct 2010 14:00
solo piano@marsden jazz festival marsden, GB
18 Oct 2010 20:00
w/mark sanders and paul rodgers@vortex jazz London, UNITED KINGDOM
19 Oct 2010 20:00
w/mark sanders and paul rodgers@CBSO birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
4 Nov 2010 20:00
piano trio@royal welsh colledge cardiff, GB
5 Nov 2010 20:00
piano trio@sheffield jazz sheffield, GB
17 Dec 2010 13:00
piano trio@birmingham uni brimingham, UNITED KINGDOM

hey no need to apologise graham! free forum!

i would hope from the messages I have passed on to mutual acquintances that we like Kit. He has so many projects on the go, I would hope we could at least help him out with one of them at some point in the future...

i am guilty of having not caught him since LJF last Nov in the Southbank foyer...hopefully he'll be headlining the QEH before we know it!

quote:

5 Nov 2010 20:00
piano trio@sheffield jazz sheffield, GB

Ooh, nice bonfire night gig in Sheffield. I guess I should listen to the album (which I bought today) first though!