Kevin Davy
Kevin G.Davy (born 29 October 1961, Nottingham, UK) is a British jazz trumpeter/flugelhorn player, composer, arranger and bandleader. Now residing in London via Manchester, Davy has amassed an impressive musical resume spanning over three decades. He has recorded with and toured extensively artists such as: Finley Quaye, Lamb, Adam F and Lemn Sissay’s Secret Society; and subsequently becoming bandleader of his own groups, the Kevin Davy Quartet (KD Q), D’Semble and more recently as the energising force behind Kevin Davy’s Monster Jam (Rich Mix, London). Recognition came in 1992 when Davy was awarded the Manchester Jazz Musician of the Year Award by BBC Radio Manchester show The People.
Early Career: Davy began playing trumpet at the age of fourteen, rapidly progressing to the trumpet in the 2nd Nottingham Boys Brigade Band (which later transitioned into the British Champion Drum Corps, the red Devils, directed by J.W.Garton). Kevin garnered further experience throughout the 1980s in brass bands such as Carlton Silver in Nottingham and various Jazz/Swing big bands within the region. During his formative years Davy studied under and was mentored by Gerald Douglas and Sarah Theobald. As a chorister he sang bass in church as well as in the Clarendon College choir.
Education: Relocating to Manchester in 1986, Davy studied at the Manchester Metropolitan University attaining a Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (B.A) in General Arts (Humanities) in 1990. Bandleader: Whilst enrolled there he attended the weekly jazz improvisation workshops organised by Colin Stansfield in the nearby All Saints College. They remained in Manchester until 1994, becoming a familiar face in town as he cut his teeth in and around the city's vibrant arts and music scene, most notably at venues such as Band on the Wall and PJ Bells, where he was booked for long residencies. Spearheading several and line-ups, Manchester was also were Davy so the seeds of his now legendary Monster Jam Sessions; conducting open jam sessions which welcomed musicians and vocalists of varying skill sets to participate. These sessions man from well over eight years.
Relocation and projects: In 1994, Kevin upped sticks and migrated south to London, where he took up the post of trumpet chair and actor At the Donmar Warehouse on their production of The Threepenny Opera directed by Phyllida Lloyd. Collaborations with writer SuAndi followed leading to Davy's participation in many community-driven projects and a long-standing international tour with the acclaimed show Afrika Afrika (Oct 2008 – March 2009), conceived by Andre Heller and choreographed by Georges Mamboye. It was during the season of 1995–96 that Davy first encountered Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes of Lamb when both attended Kevin Davy’s Monster Jam at Band on the Wall in Manchester, leading to extensive touring and recording sessions; playing on Lamb's first two albums. This musical marriage aided Kevin in segueing perfectly into the emerging drum and bass and especially trip hop genres. He remained of a part of Lamb's setup from 1996 to 2000, during which time he worked with in-demand producers Adam F and Sugizo.
Writing: Davy has continued to develop his own writing and producing, which manifests physically via his group the Kevin Davy Quartet (KDQ). This unison resulted in the critically and publicly acclaimed album The Throth Project, which has been showcased on numerous occasions across the UK, most notably in the Attic at the Hackney Picture House http://ukvibe.org/excursions/kevin-davy-quartet/.
Collaborations: He has collaborated with a wide variety of jazz musicians from various continents such as: Sangoma Everett (US, now based in France), Pibo Marquez(Venezuela), Paul Shigihara (Japanese-German), Doudou Gouirand France), Roman Rahut (Poland), Krzesimir Debski (Poland), and Claude Deppa (South Africa) He has also provided his services as part of Crass Agenda.
Influences: Kevin cites his major influences as: Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Lester Bowie, Don Cherry, Hannibal Lokumbe, Tomasz Stanko, John Hassel and Nils Molvaer Pederson amongst others.
Recent times: Today Kevin G.Davy's star is in the ascendancy. Buoyed by the favourable feedback to the Throth Project, Davy embarked on a healthy run of gigs from Wales to the Black Country down to the South of England, where he teamed up again with his good friend Finley Quaye at London's Jazz Café.
KD's Monster Jam: The resurgence of his original and increasing popular open jam format entitled "Kevin Davy's Monster Jam" has been bringing musicians and vocalists from the length and breadth of the country to Rich Mix in London. The four-hour jam session has set mouths a twitter, with Davy's Jedi Knights, as he calls them, zoning in from all four corners of the UK.
Discography
- Savage Utopia - Crass Agenda (Babel Label, 2004)
- Grand Cross - Sugizo (Polydor (Japan only), 1999)