Jazz breaking news: Kit Downes reaches for the stars on new album and tour
Friday, April 12, 2013
Mercury Prize nominated pianist Kit Downes is back with a new solo album, entitled Light From Old Stars, released on 22 April on Basho Records.
Reuniting his long-standing rhythm section of bassist Calum Gourlay and drummer James Maddren, alongside multi-reedist James Allsopp and cellist Lucy Railton (all pictured left), the set of new music takes inspiration from Downes’ meditations on the fact that when you look at the night sky, the starlight often comes from dead stars. This in turn caused him to observe that this constitutes ‘a form of time travel without moving’.
These thoughts were originally triggered when the pianist met NASA astrobiologist Daniella Scalice at the Cheltenham Science Festival, who has contributed liner notes to the album, further expanding on the nebulous idea of ‘light’ (what is it? how is it made?). These heady concepts are tempered by the album’s earthy, often accessible, blues-edged feel, with Downes bringing together his romantic, classical side and more pastoral traits a la Paul Bley and Jan Johansson. There are gritty blues guitar influences from the likes of Skip James and Howlin’ Wolf, along with the wide-angle lyricism of Bill Frisell. Filmic influences from the Cohen Brothers’ cult movie Miller’s Crossing, and David Lynch’s surreal Twin Peaks series also bring playful humour and quirky free improvised sections to the set, which sounds like Downes’ most complete statement to date.
The stargazing theme also adds a visual element to his up-coming live shows, as he continues to collaborate with artist Lesley Barnes, who has designed both the album artwork and a number of video animations that will accompany the band live – and can also be viewed at www.kitdownes.com – the band’s tour dates are as follows: The Hive, Shrewsbury (13 April); Bonington Theatre, Nottingham (18 April); Cockpit Theatre, London (29 April); Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple (7 May); Colston Hall, Bristol (9 May); Royal Welsh College Jazz Festival, Cardiff (11 May) The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh (22 May); Arts Club, Glasgow (23 May); The Forge, Camden Town, London (7 June); Marlborough Jazz Festival (19 June); and Kings Place, London (21 September).
See the May issue of Jazzwise magazine for an exclusive interview with Kit talking about the album – out in shops 25 April.
– Mike Flynn