LJN writes a wonderful review on ‘Rain Shadows’.
Ubuntu Music Signs Bruno Heinen & James Kitchman Duo
Bruno Heinen & James Kitchman / Rain Shadows
Release Date: 26th May 2023
CD & Digital Formats / UBU0134
James Kitchman & Bruno Heinen (Photographer: Phelan Burgoyne)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of the talented duo consisting of Bruno Heinen (keys) and James Kitchman (guitar), for the release of their debut album, Rain Shadows, on 26th May 2023.
As old friends, Bruno and James forged a strong musical bond during a monthly residency they held in one of London’s subterranean jazz clubs, back in 2017. Since then, the duo has been on the road appearing at clubs and international festivals. They worked together on James’ album First Quartet (Ubuntu Music), receiving critical acclaim following its release last year as well as achieving one million streams on digital platforms. More recently, the two have come together as part of a trio with renowned vocalist Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra). It is highly significant that Kitchman and Heinen have each been compared to Jim Hall and Bill Evans respectively, one of the most revered guitar-piano duos in the history of jazz."
Bruno Heinen & James Kitchman live session.
The duo explains the idea behind Rain Shadows, their latest project: "The album features compositions by each of us, interspersed with free improvisations. We wanted to capture the musical dialogue and rapport that we’ve developed whilst keeping a feeling of focussed freedom. Our compositional styles come together through a shared harmonic language, reminiscent of composer Charles Ives and the period of early twentieth century music at which tonality was reaching breaking point and beginning to unravel. The album travels across a spectrum of moods on its path; from bright optimism to the murky depths of despair and back again.”
Bruno Heinen & James Kitchman (Photographer: Phelan Burgoyne)
Concerning their extended relationship with Ubuntu Music, the pair share their thoughts: “Having each released recordings as band leaders with Ubuntu, we are thrilled to continue working with the label for this collaborative release. Martin Hummel is incredibly supportive and his passion for the music is unwavering.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, concludes: “Bruno (The W) and James (Quartet) are very welcome recent additions to the Ubuntu Music Family. There’s a natural affinity in their compositions and their playing styles that just fits together seamlessly. When they approached us about releasing their duo recording, it was an obvious decision to make, and we are so happy we did so.”
For further information, please contact:
Bruno Heinen (Artist & UK Publicity): brunobheinen@gmail.com
James Kitchman (Artist & UK Publicity): jameskitchman@yahoo.co.uk
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
WEBSITES
http://www.brunoheinen.com/
BIOGRAPHIES
Bruno Heinen - Piano/Keys
Professor of jazz piano and composition at Trinity Laban Conservatoire, Bruno has worked with artists such as Shabaka Hutchings, Eska, Julian Siegel, Denys Baptiste and Reem Kelani amongst others.
Coming from three generations of classical musicians, Bruno started playing piano at the age of four. He started composing pieces early on and was introduced to the world of jazz through the music of Bill Evans by his uncle (jazz pianist Johannes Heinen) in his late teens. His compositional voice has been informed by his love of composers from Duke Ellington to Béla Bártok and from Wayne Shorter to György Ligeti.
His quartet The W (Ubuntu Music) features Heidi Vogel (Cinematic Orchestra), Andrea Di Biase (Kenny Wheeler) and Gene Calderazzo (Pharoah Sanders). They have recently released their debut recording to critical acclaim; the Independent describes him as “a consistently intelligent linking voice”, a fair summation of the way in which he brings these four unique musicians together through his original compositions.
In 2019 he was awarded an AHRC-funded practice-based PhD at the RNCM with the title 'Counterpoint in jazz piano with specific relation to the solo work of Fred Hersch'.
Bruno has written for groups ranging from two pianos and percussion (for a project with Pete Saberton), to classical string ensemble (for a commission in 2017 from the Camerata Alma Viva). In 2009, Bruno was nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Composers Award.
He recently held the piano chair for two performances of Bernstein's Wonderful Town at the Barbican Centre with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The performances were recorded and released on ‘LSO Live’.
“Eclectic, eccentric, unobtrusively erudite” The Guardian
“Brilliant playing…tuneful and intricate” Big Issue
“Bruno Heinen plays with notable clarity and poise” The Observer
James Kitchman - Guitar
London-based guitarist James Kitchman hails from the forsaken realm of Northumberland. Described by All About Jazz as possessing ‘an exalted lyricism and a sophisticated grasp of harmony’, he is recognised as one of the most distinctive and sought-after jazz guitarists of his generation.
Projects have encompassed a broad array of musical styles and disciplines; he co-led the Southern Cone Quintet’s take on Argentinian, Chilean and Uruguayan folk music; he was a part of the Orpheus Sinfonia in Grammy-nominated composer Tarik O’Regan’s electro-acoustic opera; and in 2020, released a guitar/vocal album as Kitchman / Schmidt exploring the Anglo/American folk songs of the Appalachian mountains.
Kitchman frequently appears at London’s most prestigious venues in collaboration with UK and international artists, including a recent series of concerts with indie-rock group The Libertines. His latest recording ‘First Quartet’ (Ubuntu Music) has been played by BBC Radio 3, Jazz FM, & Worldwide FM, receiving critical acclaim. Recognised for carrying his distinctive voice across all his work, Kitchman is in continual pursuit of artistic development.
“Huge amounts of style and panache” BBC Radio 3
“Quietly rebellious” Songlines Magazine
“A really expansive sound” BBC Radio Scotland
Ubuntu Music in Jazzwise Magazine's August 2022 Issue
Another banner month for Ubuntu Artists!
Matt Ridley / Take 5
James Kitchman / Charting the Jazz Message
Joe Webb / Jazz FM Pick
James Kitchman / Taking Off
James Kitchman: Review & Editor’s Pick
Tomorrow’s New Quartet: Review & Editor’s Pick
Joe Webb: Review
Scarborough Jazz Festival: Rory Ingham Feature
REVIEW: James Kitchman
“A superb debut, and it will be interesting to hear where Kitchman takes his music next.”
REVIEW: James Kitchman
“A highlight throughout is Kitchman’s unquestionable guitaring ability which breaths a unique and authentic sense of character into it all.”
REVIEW: James Kitchman/First Quartet
Bebop spoken Here’s lance Liddle writes, “Kitchman nods to the future without forgetting the past resulting in an album that presents him as an outstanding composer and instrumentalist.”
Ubuntu Music Signs Guitarist James Kitchman For Debut Album Release
First Quartet
28th January 2022
UBU0097 / CD & Digital Formats
James Kitchman (Photographer Tom Stankey)
Ubuntu Music is delighted to announce the signing of composer/guitarist James Kitchman for his debut album release, First Quartet, on 28th January 2022.
James leads a cast of London’s finest improvisers: pianist Bruno Heinen (Denys Baptiste); bassist Tom McCredie (Elliot Galvin); and drummer Shane Forbes (Empirical). They play James' compositions which draw influences from the variety of musical worlds he traverses; from jazz, to chamber music, to contemporary folk. Improvisation and empathic listening are at the core of the group’s spirit, conjuring a sound that is equally stark and refreshing.
James describes the idea behind the album: “Having spent the best part of a decade honing my craft as a guitarist and improviser, I made it to a place where I felt my experience and imagination start to converge, so I began to compose the music for this record. There are influences from lots of places - I didn’t want to shy away from exhibiting certain aspects of myself, nor from my jazz tendencies. There are nods to my beginnings in folk and psychedelic rock, harmonies derived from the melancholy and romanticism of Astor Piazzolla and the Nuevo-Tango, melodies inspired by composers such as Chopin and Satie, the expansive textures of Scandinavian jazz and the ‘ECM’ sound, and of course the masters of jazz who continue to inspire and inform my playing style (Coltrane, Rollins, Jim Hall, Scofield, Frisell). I hope this results in a record that will be enjoyed by eclectic listeners and aficionados alike.”
Left to right: Bruno Heinen, James Kitchman, Shane Forbes, Tom McCredie (Photographer Tom Stankey)
“Huge amounts of style and panache”
--BBC Radio 3
James continues: “The quartet is completed by three very happening players (Bruno Heinen - piano, Tom McCredie - bass, & Shane Forbes - drums) each of whom I have played with for a number of years. When I formed the group I knew that they would sound great together - and it sounded that way from the first few notes. They understood what the music was about and brought the vibe in the studio. This record is as much my debut as a jazz guitarist and bandleader as it is a composer. I wanted to create environments in which things could happen musically, and for me they did.”
James Kitchman (Photographer Antonio Porcar)
“Quietly rebellious”
--Songlines Magazine
Concerning his new relationship with Ubuntu Music, James concludes: “I am thrilled to join the Ubuntu Music family alongside a roster of so many fine artists. Martin Hummel has created an exciting and dynamic label and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
Martin Hummel, Director of Ubuntu Music, shares his thoughts: “James has a style and a touch, all his own. His influences are diverse, which are reflected in his playing. He’s amassed top drawer talent. ‘First Quartet’, his debut album, captures this magic, taking the listener on a hypnotic audio journey. We welcome James and the Quartet to the Ubuntu Music family.”
For further information, please contact:
Emma Perry (UK Publicity): emmasarahperry@gmail.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (Worldwide): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
JAMES KITCHMAN BIOGRAPHY
James began playing piano at the age of six, before switching to guitar at age nine. Raised in Northumberland, he made his first concerts performing traditional folk music at Ceilidh
dances. At age ten he received his first electric guitar, and was soon learning Jimi Hendrix solos by ear and writing his own songs. Although the only musician in his family, he was captivated by his parents' diverse record collection which spanned from Bach, to Beethoven, to Billie Holiday, to The Beatles.
As a teenager he wrote songs and played in many bands, before developing an interest in jazz and improvisation upon attending Newcastle College’s Performance Academy at age sixteen. Primarily self-taught until this point, he was enrolled in the weekend programme at The Sage Gateshead where he studied ear training/solfeggio, harmony, and composition as well as performing at the Gateshead International Jazz Festival.
At age 19 he won a full scholarship to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London. Soon after arriving in London, he performed at Ronnie Scotts and The Vortex, and was commissioned to write a score for Upsomene 277 - a short film shortlisted for Sundance Festival. Whilst primarily focusing on jazz and composition, James was also a founding member of the London Soundpainting Orchestra - a large ensemble improvising from sign-language with performance highlights including ENO London Coliseum, and the Institute of Contemporary Art, amongst others.
Since graduating from Trinity, James has become one of the most sought-after jazz guitarists of his generation, frequently appearing at London’s most prestigious venues in collaboration with UK and international artists. His projects have encompassed a broad array of influences and carry a thread of eclecticism; he co-led the Southern Cone Quintet’s chamber music take on Argentinian, Chilean, and Uruguayan folk music; performing with this group at Union Chapel, and the BBC Proms - a concert that was broadcasted on national radio, he was part of the Orpheus Sinfonia in Grammy-nominated composer Tarik O’Regan’s electro-acoustic opera ‘The Wanton Sublime’ at Grime-Born Opera Festival, and recently performed a series of sold-out concerts at Hackney Empire with Pete Doherty and Carl Barât of The Libertines.
James’ duo with German vocalist Sylvia Schmidt explores the Anglo/American folk songs of the Appalachian Mountains, creating a sound that embraces the dynamic tension between forces of preservation and transformation. They released their debut album ‘As Long As Songbirds Sing’ in 2020, which features James’ arrangement of the song ‘I Wonder As I Wander’, selected by BBC Radio 3 to be played on the Christmas eve ‘Breakfast Show’.
As a guitarist, James has performed at many major venues in the UK and Europe. These include Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, Kings Place, Sage Gateshead, Ronnie Scott’s, and Union Chapel. Other appearances include numerous international jazz, folk, and classical music festivals. He has toured and held residencies across Europe.
Recognised for carrying his distinctive voice across all of his work, James is in continual pursuit of artistic development.