Bands

I play in three main bands:

  • Natural Causes – A band from Torquay, Huddersfield, Norwich and Lancaster, playing live with silent films, and working with poets such as Ian McMillan, Peter Oswald and Jackie Kay.
  • Rude 2.0 – FX-laden quartet with trombonist Annie Whitehead, bassist Jennifer Maidman and drummer Liam Genockey, that has played sold out gigs at Marsden Jazz Festival, Cafe Oto, and the Vortex Jazz Club
  • Moonrise Trio – My own trio, originally formed to play music from my ‘This Love’ album.

Alongside the Moonrise Trio, I have two other trios of my own:

  • hymn – Norwich-based trio playing spacious improvisations informed by simple composed material. Chris Dowding (trumpet & electronics), George McKay (double bass), David Ross (electronics and percussion).
  • The Hard Edges of Metal – a new loud all-brass trio coming to Norfolk…

This is part of my trios project, exploring different trios, which also include:

  • Tangential – Standards trio with George McKay (double bass) and Jake Kay (drums), playing jazz standards and some originals…
  • of our own invention – new, more soon…
  • In My Experience – a solo project that came out of writing some short poems, which I translated into musical notes using an alphabet system from composer Hugh Nankivell. The soundworld that emerged features shifting melodies, hypnotic patterns and abstract beats.

Other projects include:

  • ALATI – A trio of myself (trumpet), Brigitte Beraha (vocals) and Dave O’ Brien (piano) exploring poems, songs and improvisation…
  • some things – ‘Arresting brass duo’ from Norwich playing original material, obscure standards and interpretations of English folk songs.
  • The Brass Monkeys – ‘Improvising brass band’ from Norwich and London led by tuba player Ben Higham. The Brass Monkeys have played several sold out gigs at Pizza Express, London. Expect free-flowing brass, country dances, and the unexpected…
  • holding hands – An exciting new octet, co-led by myself and Norwich-based saxophonist Rob Milne, including some of the most exciting improvisers from Norwich and London.
  • Sylvia & I – Duo with Sylvia Hallett, exploring dreamy soundscapes and overlapping loops…
  • Sudden Amusements – Norwich-based processed trumpet and field recordings duo with Oliver Payne…

I have also been working with:

  • Joey Herzfeld (songwriter recently moved to Norwich from London)
  • Diego Brown and the Good Fairy (multi-instrumental brother/sister duo from London)
  • surfaces ensemble – more soon…

I am also involved with programming several nights:

  • Plink Plonk – an improvised music night programmed by Eastern Ear (www.easternear.co.uk), which also runs the participatory improvising group The Plank, and programmes Yarmonics with originalprojects;
  • St. Paul’s Sessions – a semi-annual concert series at St. Paul’s Church in Marylebone, my sister Clare Dowding’s church. This has included sets by poet John Hegley, saxophonist Julian Arguelles, and trombonist Annie Whitehead.
  • Camouflage – roughly speaking, a contemporary jazz night/event/organisation in Norwich expanding into participatory happenings, a label and more…

Workshop projects include: