Kit Downes / Sam Lasserson / James Maddren / Julian Argüelles
This new quartet grew out of an opportunity Julian had to play with Kit in various ensembles, they then went on to perform several concerts together as a duo. The quartet finally came together, in this form , in 2010. This quartet of world class musicians explores the relationship between composition and improvisation, trying to blur the lines, using aesthetics derived from classical, folk and pop music within the freedom provided by a jazz sensibility.
A former-member of Loose Tubes, Julian has toured and recorded throughout the world with leading musicians such as Hermeto Pascoal, Dave Holland, Django Bates, John Scoffield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie, Bill Frisell, and John Taylor. He is the leader of his own groups and recorded eleven CDs and has appeared as a featured soloist on over 60 others. In 2004 Julian moved to the Scottish countryside and in 2012 he won the Best Instrumentalist at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
As a composer he has recently been commissioned to write for the NDR (North German Radio Big Band) HR (Frankfurt Radio Big Band), BBC Radio 3, various orchestras, big bands, ensembles and Conservatories. In 1999 Julian was the recipient of the Jazz Composers Alliance Composition Award from the USA and in 2011-12 Julian was composer in Residence at the Luzern Jazz School, Switzerland. His eleven CDs as a leader have won many awards and have become hugely influential to a new generation of British musicians.
Pianist and composer Kit Downes was nominated for a Mercury Music Award in 2010, and has won the BBC Rising Star Award, Yamaha Jazz Scholarship Award, and has been nominated twice for the British Jazz Awards. He is one of the most highly respected young jazz pianists in Europe.
Sam Lasserson is a highly regarded and in-demand young bass player. He has performed with many of the UK’s jazz stars.
Drummer James Maddren is currently a member of Kit’s various bands and pianist Gwilym Simcock’s Trio, and has performed with many international jazz stars from around the world.