Album of the week: Dreamlife of Debris by Kit Downes

A sobering album for sobering times. Think the rapport Iain Ballamy had in his early career with Django Bates and you have one indication towards an intimation of that correspondingly here in the interplay between pianist/organist Kit Downes, on …

Published: 16 Nov 2019. Updated: 3 years.

A sobering album for sobering times.

Think the rapport Iain Ballamy had in his early career with Django Bates and you have one indication towards an intimation of that correspondingly here in the interplay between pianist/organist Kit Downes, on this Huddersfield and Snape recorded masterpiece, and saxophonist Tom Challenger.

Their duo passages are located at the heart of a remarkable album that sucks you in and never lets you go. The other personnel are cellist Lucy Railton, guitarist Stian Westerhus and drummer Sebastian Rochford. Suffolk and W. G. Sebald are inspirations, ones that Steve Lake refers to in the liner notes, a story first begun on Obsidian.

A significant achievement overall. There is a grandeur to the music here that is not built on pompous statement more on intimacy, humility, and contemplation and that makes the quality of the composition and artisan crafting of the performance even more impressive as it dives into a world of melancholia and reflection.

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Mezcla to debut

Nominated for ‘Best Band’ at the 2018 Scottish Jazz Awards Mezcla led by bass guitarist David Bowden who was BBC Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2017 are upping their profile with a record on the Ubuntu label in 2020. Debut album Shoot …

Published: 15 Nov 2019. Updated: 4 years.

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Nominated for ‘Best Band’ at the 2018 Scottish Jazz Awards Mezcla led by bass guitarist David Bowden who was BBC Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2017 are upping their profile with a record on the Ubuntu label in 2020. Debut album Shoot the Moon will come out in February.

A sextet: Joshua Elcock (trumpet), Ben MacDonald (guitar), Michael Butcher (tenor sax), Stephen Henderson (drums), David Bowden (bass guitar), Alan Benzie (keys) Mezcla hail from Glasgow and they play a modern jazz and latin-jazz mix.

Martin Hummel of Ubuntu comments: ''Mezcla are a part of an exceptional wave of talent from Scotland and have earned their status as a vital part of this thriving jazz community.'' updated with additional video added on 19 Dec 2019