Kevin Davy
London-based, Jazz Improviser, band-leader, composer and trumpeter. Davy tends towards the modal approach to jazz and improvised music, but also plays "time and changes",(jazz parlance for harmonic changes over regular time or metre, mostly swing and straight-ahead), but also citing influences such as: Hannibal Lokumbe, Lester Bowie, Don Cherry, Tomasz Stanko, Nils Molvaer Pederson, John Hassel, and others. Interest in acoustic improvised music and jazz, as well as experiementations and collabortation with those who deal with sound manipulation, electronica i.e. employing synthesisers, sequencers and powerful sampling technology, which can cut and paste in live situations. In this regard, Davy is best known for international touring and recording with Lamb, Adam F, Two Banks of Four, Lemn Sissay (Secret Society), as well as his own groups, KDQ and D'semble. According to styles and genres in Jazz and music generally, Davy has worked across the board, throughout Europe, with artists such as; Pibo Marquez(Venezuela), Sangoma Everett(USA/France), Shiek Tidiane Sek(Mali/France), Kresimir Debski(Poland), Roman Rahout(Poland) Paul Shigihara(Japan/Germany), and Doudou Gouirand(France) to name but a few. Davy's trumpet has featured on albums by Japanese producer Sugizo (Truth?, and Grand Cross), US vocalist Melissa Kaplan, The Crass Collective, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Ashley and Jackson, Chapter and the Verse, Adamski, Unabombers, and The Aliens. Davy has performed on the European music festival curcuit, including: the Montreaux, and North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as New York's revered Summerstage. To date, Davy has also done trumpet on two well-publicised shows: The Donmar Warehouse Production of the ThreePenny Opera. 1994/95 (London), and more recently working with the touring show, Afrika Arika, throughout Europe. 2008/09. Currently Davy is based in London.
Musical Direction
Kevin Davy's music direction:
The current Kevin Davy group, is a six-piece lineup. With its roots firmly in Jazz. Davy has tended to use small ensembles for as a vehicle for his composition and musical direction. The compositions are originals by Davy. The music is underpinned by an urban edge, employing grooves from Nu Jazz, and harmony derived from blues, gospel, and the near east. This is reflected in the trumpet tonality, and the textures brought to the music, by instruments such as; tablas, congos, and african-rooted scat vocals.
The Kevin Davy Group (Current Personnel)
Kevin Davy, (Trumpet, and Fluegel Horn) Gregor Hilbe and Adrian Lawrence (Drums), Darlington Joseph and Vicky Tilson (Bass), Renu Hossain (Tablas, and Percussion) Dom Pipkin (Piano and Keys) Jo Hendrix Ndelo (Vocals)
Some Past Musical History.
KDQ and D'semble lineups
Davy has led and directed his own groups, D'semble and KDQ over the last fifteen years, which has featured many musicians on recording and live work, such as Tomas Dyani, Julie Dexter, Robert Mitchell, Mikey Wilson, Sylvan Richardson, Trevor Watkiss, Tony Remy, Mike Gorman, Luke Smith, Luke Flowers et al.
In 1992, Kevin Davy was voted Jazz Musician of the Year by Manchester
BBC GMR Radio's The People programme.
TV Appearances, and TV work.
Kevin Davy has had numerous T.V. appearances in the U.K. and continental
Europe, including; TransWorld TV (with Lemn Sissay and Secret Society), MTV Europe (with Lamb), and Top Of The Pops (with Phil Collins, and The Tamperer). Channel 4, The Word (with Elevator Suite). Davy's trumpet has been featured on programmes by Granada TV.
(with the music of Secret Society, short film, Lush Life, and The Judie Finnigan Debate).
Work on Musical Direction for Drama / Dramatic setting.
In Drama, has worked with Directors; Denise Wong, Dr. Alda Terraciano, and Su Andi OBE.
Currently:
Davy is currently involved with his own music and collaborative
projects such as The Bow Project, led by Gregor HILBE.