Hello and welcome to my ‘private page’. Thanks for visiting! Here you can listen to tracks from my latest album ‘First Quartet’ (released on 08 April 2022). Enjoy, James.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD WAV/MP3 FILES
A group led by “quietly rebellious” [Songlines Magazine] guitarist James Kitchman featuring 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 influence from the variety of musical worlds he traverses; from jazz, to chamber music, to contemporary folk, to ambient electronica. Improvisation and empathy is at the core of the group’s spirit; conjuring a sound that is at once stark and refreshing. His debut recording ‘First Quartet’ on Ubuntu Music label was released in 2022 to critical acclaim.
“Wonderful, sensitive and well proportioned.”
Ernst Reijseger (cellist & composer for Werner Herzog amongst others)
“What a wonderful concert! I love the feeling of the quartet, the beautiful tunes, and the deep chemistry between the musicians.”
Sam Amidon (Nonesuch Records artist & collaborator with Bill Frisell)
“Huge amounts of style and panache”
BBC Radio 3
“Quietly rebellious”
Songlines Magazine
“An exalted lyricism and sophisticated grasp of harmony”
All About Jazz
“One of the strongest UK releases by a new artist this year, First Quartet is a remarkable debut by guitarist James Kitchman. It’s so assured and together as a statement and you’d swear Kitchman even on a blindfold listen was a grizzled veteran …”
Marlbank.net
“Whilst guitarist Kitchman may not yet be a familiar name to the wider jazz audience, things are set to change with this release.“
UK Vibe
“Kitchman nods to the future without forgetting the past resulting in an album that presents him as an outstanding composer and instrumentalist”
Bebop Spoken Here
“The amplified stylistic spectrum – from minimalist “immobility” to a kind of sophisticated neo-swing – unfolds through permanent envelopes / dodges / allusions, in which each of the performers fully reveals his talent, but without eclipsing his partners.”
Virgil Mihaiu (Romanian jazzologist and writer, Orizont magazine)
For further information, please contact:
James Kitchman (bookings): info@jameskitchman.com
Martin Hummel/Ubuntu Music (publishing/distribution): martin@ubuntumanagementgroup.com
JAMES KITCHMAN _GUITARIST & Composer 