Kevin Davy
Encyclopedia
Kevin Davy is a British
jazz
trumpet
er, based in London
.
Born in Nottingham
, UK where he lived until 1986, whereupon gaining a place to study at Manchester Polytechnic
, decided to move to the city. Davy started playing at the age of 14 and quickly progressed to lead trumpet in the 2nd Nottingham Boy's Brigade Band, which later became the British champion drum corps band, The Red Devils, under the directorship of J. W. Garton. Throughout the eighties Davy spent time gaining musical experience in brass bands such as the Carlton Silver (Nottingham), also jazz/swing bigbands in the region, studying trumpet under Gerald Douglas, and Sarah Theobald. He also gained considerable experience as a bass in choral music, in the church and also in the Clarendon College choir.
By 1990 Davy gained a DipHE (Diploma of Higher Education), and a BA
in General Arts (Humanities) from Manchester Polytechnic, a period during which he was to attend the weekly jazz improvisation workshops of Colin Stansfield in the adjacent All Saints College. This set the approach for Davy to compose music, step out of the sidemanship role, lead several band lineups in Manchester, and also conduct several open jam sessions inviting participants of all levels. These lasted for more than eight years.
Davy first met Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes of Lamb
, both attending the Kevin Davy's Monster Jam, at Band on the Wall during the 1995/96 season.
Davy had already moved to London to take up trumpet chair at the Donmar Warehouse
production of the Kurt Weill/ Bertolt Brecht The Threepenny Opera
in 1994, and was well placed to work in the emerging drum 'n' bass and especially trip hop
genres with its experimentation and allusions to impressionistic music and jazz. He worked with Lamb from 1996-2000, playing on Lamb
's first two albums, and touring extensively, during which time he worked with producers Adam F
, and Sugizo
.
Since this period Davy, has continued to develop his own writing and producing, in his own group KDQ (Kevin Davy Quintet). He has worked with jazz musicians, such as Sangoma Everett (US-based in France
), Doudou Gouirand
(France), Paul Shigihara (Japanese-German), Pibo Marquez (Venezuela
), Roman Rahout (Poland
), and Kresmir Debski (Poland), and Claude Deppa
(South Africa
), and has worked as part of Crass Agenda. Davy continues to collaborate musically with innovative contemporary musicians in the jazz and improv. genres.
From October 2008 to March 2009, Kevin Davy held the trumpet chair, with the celebrated touring circus show: Afrika Afrika.
During this time the show toured: Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Austria.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er, based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Born in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, UK where he lived until 1986, whereupon gaining a place to study at Manchester Polytechnic
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is a university in North West England. Its headquarters and central campus is in the city of Manchester, but there are outlying facilities in the county of Cheshire. It is the third largest university in the United Kingdom in terms of student numbers, behind the...
, decided to move to the city. Davy started playing at the age of 14 and quickly progressed to lead trumpet in the 2nd Nottingham Boy's Brigade Band, which later became the British champion drum corps band, The Red Devils, under the directorship of J. W. Garton. Throughout the eighties Davy spent time gaining musical experience in brass bands such as the Carlton Silver (Nottingham), also jazz/swing bigbands in the region, studying trumpet under Gerald Douglas, and Sarah Theobald. He also gained considerable experience as a bass in choral music, in the church and also in the Clarendon College choir.
By 1990 Davy gained a DipHE (Diploma of Higher Education), and a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in General Arts (Humanities) from Manchester Polytechnic, a period during which he was to attend the weekly jazz improvisation workshops of Colin Stansfield in the adjacent All Saints College. This set the approach for Davy to compose music, step out of the sidemanship role, lead several band lineups in Manchester, and also conduct several open jam sessions inviting participants of all levels. These lasted for more than eight years.
Davy first met Andy Barlow and Lou Rhodes of Lamb
Lamb (band)
Lamb is an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, whose music is influenced by trip hop and drum and bass. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow, who also produces under the pseudonym Hipoptimist, and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes...
, both attending the Kevin Davy's Monster Jam, at Band on the Wall during the 1995/96 season.
Davy had already moved to London to take up trumpet chair at the Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse
Donmar Warehouse is a small not-for-profit theatre in the Covent Garden area of London, with a capacity of 251.-About:Under the artistic leadership of Michael Grandage, the theatre has presented some of London’s most memorable award-winning theatrical experiences, as well as garnered critical...
production of the Kurt Weill/ Bertolt Brecht The Threepenny Opera
The Threepenny Opera
The Threepenny Opera is a musical by German dramatist Bertolt Brecht and composer Kurt Weill, in collaboration with translator Elisabeth Hauptmann and set designer Caspar Neher. It was adapted from an 18th-century English ballad opera, John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, and offers a Marxist critique...
in 1994, and was well placed to work in the emerging drum 'n' bass and especially trip hop
Trip hop
Trip hop is a music genre consisting of downtempo electronic music which originated in the early 1990s in England, especially Bristol. Deriving from "post"-acid house, the term was first used by the British music media and press as a way to describe the more experimental variant of breakbeat which...
genres with its experimentation and allusions to impressionistic music and jazz. He worked with Lamb from 1996-2000, playing on Lamb
Lamb (band)
Lamb is an electronic music duo from Manchester, England, whose music is influenced by trip hop and drum and bass. The duo consists of producer Andy Barlow, who also produces under the pseudonym Hipoptimist, and singer-songwriter Lou Rhodes...
's first two albums, and touring extensively, during which time he worked with producers Adam F
Adam F
Adam F is an English jungle and drum and bass DJ, and film actor.-Career:An early album was the techstep effort, Metropolis/Mother Earth, released in 1997 on the Metalheadz record label. His other early successes were the tracks "F-Jam" and "Circles"...
, and Sugizo
Sugizo
, born , is a Japanese musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. Referred to by his stage name Sugizo, he is best known as lead guitarist of the rock band Luna Sea, who were popular in the 1990s. He started his solo career in 1997 and has since collaborated with many artists...
.
Since this period Davy, has continued to develop his own writing and producing, in his own group KDQ (Kevin Davy Quintet). He has worked with jazz musicians, such as Sangoma Everett (US-based in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
), Doudou Gouirand
Doudou Gouirand
Doudou Gouirand is a French jazz saxophonist and composer.-Early career:Gouirand was living in Sweden when he met the great trumpeter and composer Don Cherry, who gave him the opportunity to study and work with him in Sweden and Scandinavia and eventually throughout Europe...
(France), Paul Shigihara (Japanese-German), Pibo Marquez (Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
), Roman Rahout (Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
), and Kresmir Debski (Poland), and Claude Deppa
Claude Deppa
Claude Deppa is a jazz trumpeter born in Cape Town, South Africa, probably best known for his work with the Brotherhood of Breath and Carla Bley.-Discography:#Toi Toi...
(South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
), and has worked as part of Crass Agenda. Davy continues to collaborate musically with innovative contemporary musicians in the jazz and improv. genres.
From October 2008 to March 2009, Kevin Davy held the trumpet chair, with the celebrated touring circus show: Afrika Afrika.
During this time the show toured: Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Austria.