‘DUETS' ALBUM LAUNCH

Lewis Wright

Featuring Kit Downes

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Last Show: Monday 9 th April 2018

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Lewis Wright is an award-winning British vibraphonist, composer and drummer based in London. As a vibraphonist, he was nominated for Rising Star in the 2016 Downbeat International Critics Poll, was awarded Ensemble of the Year in the 2016 Parliamentary Jazz Awards with Empirical and was awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians prize in 2011. He has performed at venues such as the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Albert Hall and has been a featured soloist with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz At Lincoln Centre Orchestra. As a drummer, he has worked with artists such as Michael Kiwanuka, Joss Stone, Melody Gardot, Nerina Pallot and Emily King. His compositions have been featured on radio (BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio Scotland) and film (‘About Ray’). His debut record will be released on Signum Classics in April 2018 and features British piano virtuoso Kit Downes. 
Opening set from Tom Hewson (Piano) & Ant Law (Guitar).

“One of the new stars on vibraphone, with a very individual style and concept, worthy of every jazz fan’s attention”

Gary Burton

Award-winning vibraphonist Lewis Wright is to release his debut album, Duets, on Signum Classics on 6 April 2018. The album, featuring duets for vibraphone and piano all composed by Wright, also features virtuoso pianist Kit Downes, whom Wright has known and performed with since childhood. Although he has written for and recorded multiple albums with award-winning ensemble Empirical amongst others, this album marks Wright’s first solo venture as a composer.

With such limited material currently available for vibraphone and piano, these compositions are an important addition to the repertoire and explore both the rhythmic and polyphonic capabilities of both instruments. These compositions also marry together many of Wright’s musical influences, from his first love, jazz, through to classical composers such as Debussy and Bartók. While Wright is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist (as a drummer, he’s worked with such high-profile artists such as Michael Kiwanuka and Joss Stone), the vibraphone is where he feels his individual expression is strongest, making these compositions and this recording particularly powerful.

Internationally-renowned as a performer, Wright was awarded the Worshipful Company of Musicians prize in 2011 and was nominated for Rising Star in the 2016 Downbeat International Critics Poll.

Wright comments:

"I’m particularly excited about this album, not only because it is the first album I have solely composed and produced, but also because it documents a 20+ year musical relationship between myself and Kit Downes. It's quite an unusual combination of instruments, and in this duo setting it offers the composer and performers great freedom to explore different musical roles.”