Nick Smart – Trumpet
Denny “Jimmy” Martinez – Bass
Alex Munk – Guitar
Kishon Khan –Piano
Paul Clarvis – drums/percussion
“TROGON”, named after the national bird of Cuba, is the new band led by trumpeter Nick Smart, is performing at the home of Babel records, the Vortex Jazz Club in Dalston, London. The band perform material from their new album “Tower Casa”, released to critical acclaim in Nov 2013 on the pioneering BritJazz “Babel” Label.
Whilst often thought of mostly as the Head of Jazz at London’s Royal Academy of Music, trumpeter Nick Smart also has an international reputation as a performer. He has played in New York alongside Dave Douglas and John Hollenbeck, and in the UK and Europe with the Kenny Wheeler Big Band and the James Taylor Quartet as well as countless others. He has led his own projects since 2005 and is also an acclaimed musical director for ensembles including Stan Sulzmann’s Neon Orchestra and Troyka’s “Troykestra”.
For this eagerly anticipated new project – Nick Smart’s “TROGON” – he brings together some of the most engaging and innovative musicians on the current World-Jazz scenes. TROGON makes full use of the cultural breadth of London’s rich musical landscape; alongside outstanding guitarist Alex Munk, the group also includes the dynamic pairing of London-Bangladeshi pianist Kishon Khan and Cuban bassist Denny ‘Jimmy’ Martinez. Especially for this Vortex show the band welcomes legendary drummer/percussionist Paul Clarvis to join them.
Firmly rooted in jazz, the groups exciting mix of musical backgrounds is enriched by the propulsive rhythmic traditions of Afro Cuban music and the rich harmonies of contemporary jazz. The album includes original compositions by Nick Smart and Kishon Khan and exciting new arrangements of pieces by Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann.
What the Press say about Trogon “Tower Casa”
“It’s an undemonstratively idiosyncratic fusion, and Smart plays with brightness, tight timing and subtleintonation throughout.” John Fordham, Guardian 4 star review
“There ‘s nothing obscure about this attractive, convivial recording that’s far more on the jazz-latin side than it is latin-jazz….. with the trumpeter’s eloquent playing in the ‘classic’ mould.” Selwyn Harris, Jazzwise Magazine 4 star review
!!!! See TROGON live at this exclusive Vortex show !!!!