Kit Downes joins forces with long-time collaborators Petter Eldh on bass and James Maddren on drums for a carefully assorted piano trio programme that treads gentle lyricism and bold creative outbursts in equal measures. Downes, whose prior ECM offering Dreamlife of Debris was termed a “work of otherworldly beauty” by BBC Music Magazine, carves out some of his most compendious pieces to date on Vermillion. Replete with subtle twists and turns, the trio offers its idiosyncratic take on the piano trio format, producing unexpected harmonic alterations and animate rhythmic flashes as they flesh out distinct musical forms.

Recorded at the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano, the three-piece outlines a unique design for this instrumentation in clear-cut interplay and creates a profound study of Kit Downes’ broad musical imagination in the process.

Kit Downes: piano

Petter Eldh: double bass

James Maddren: drums

“Downes has pointed to the late great John Taylor’s influence on his music and it’s evident here in the young pianist’s sublime lyricism and his textured approach to improvising.” – ***** BBC Music Magazine

“Poetic by nature and remarkably accessible, Vermillion, Downes’ wildly affecting rebuttal to 2019’s rich, sometimes prickly dispatch, Dreamlife of Debris (ECM), tip toes in like a ballerina assured of her mastery of movement and keeps one riveted and rapturous throughout the revue.” – **** 1/2 All About Jazz

“Overall there’s a lovely feel to this recording, where construction and deconstruction exist in harmony, yielding gracefully melodious themes in the process. But it’s those little sparks and flourishes that stand out from this trio, delightfully rewarding the listener with some wonderful moments to savour.” – **** UK Vibe

“As a long time admirer of all three musicians I’m highly impressed with ‘Vermillion’, which represents something new and different for all of them. The writing is consistently intelligent and it’s interesting to compare and contrast the differing styles of Downes and Eldh within the overall ‘chamber music’ aesthetic that informs this particular album.” – **** The Jazz Mann

“There’s an emphasis on balladry, with each part of the triumvirate pulling out subtle melodic threads from the written themes like a magician, only for them to seemingly vanish as quickly as they appeared.” – The Quietus

“This is an excellent follow up to Kit Downes’ previous ECM albums. It is an album that bears repeated listening to bring out the subtleties of the playing and the interaction between the members of the trio.” – LondonJazz News

“Kit Downes unveils a terrific acoustic trio of cool fluency and conversational ease (including an oblique view of Jimi Hendrix’s Castles Made of Sand) on Vermillion.” – The Guardian