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Pianist/composer Kit Downes exploded onto the British jazz scene playing with Empirical, and then with Troyka, Fraud and Acoustic Ladyland. He went on to win the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star in 2008, as well as a Yamaha Scholorship in 2009.

Two years on, Kit has moved on to his own trio project releasing a debut album, 'Golden', that has garnered huge acclaim. Joined by his two Royal Academy colleagues, award-winning bassist Calum Gourlay and rising drum star James Maddren, the music displays a level of understanding and intelligence between players that can only come from working closely together for a number of years. They read each other perfectly. The music is immediately arresting and stands repeated listening. It uses melody, inspired from a range of sources ranging from Bela Bartok to Keith Jarrett to Rufus Wainwright, and endeavours both to celebrate the classic piano trio tradition as well as develop it. They have recorded live sessions for BBC Jazz on 3 as well as playing at the London Jazz Festival, Cheltenham Jazz Festival and Glasgow Jazz Festival.