DeutschA multisensory concert – Saturday, 11th January 2025, 8 pm
Kit Downes, piano
Thorbjørn Silas Stefansson, bass
Tony Buck, drums
Fabio Dondero (Incense burning): Elemi
Experience an unforgettable evening of experimental jazz as Kit Downes (piano), Thorbjørn Silas Stefansson (bass), and Tony Buck (drums) come together for an intimate and atmospheric performance at Panda Platforma. These three internationally renowned musicians will guide you through an immersive sonic journey, blending intricate improvisations with deep, meditative soundscapes. As part of this unique concert, the burning of Elemi incense will fill the air. Elemi, a resin derived from tropical trees, has been used for centuries for its calming and spiritual properties. With its fresh, citrusy, and slightly balsamic scent, Elemi enhances the atmosphere, creating a perfect setting for this deep musical exploration. This event is not recommended for people who are sensitive to smoke.
PANDA Platforma in der Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr. 97, 10435 Berlin
Kit Downes is a BBC Jazz Award winning, Mercury Music Award nominated solo recording artist for ECM Records. He has toured the world playing piano, church organ and harmonium with his own bands (‘ENEMY’, ‘Troyka’ and ‘Elt’) as well as with artists such as Squarepusher, Bill Frisell, ‘Empirical‘, Andrew Cyrille, Sofia Jernberg, Benny Greb, Mica Levi and Sam Amidon. Kit performs solo pipe organ and solo piano concerts – as well as playing in collaborations with saxophonist Tom Challenger, cellist Lucy Railton, composer Shiva Feshareki, saxophonist Ben van Gelder and with the band ‘ENEMY’ (with Petter Eldh and James Maddren). He is also currently working with violinist Aidan O’Rourke, drummer Seb Rochford, composer Max de Wardener and in the organ trio ‘Deadeye’ with Reinier Baas and Jonas Burgwinkel. He has written commissions for Cheltenham Music Festival, London Contemporary Orchestra, Biel Organ Festival, Ensemble Klang at ReWire Festival, the Scottish Ensemble, Cologne Philharmonie and the Wellcome Trust. He also performed as part of the National Theatre production of ‘Network’ from 2017-2018, featuring actor Bryan Cranston. He has performed solo organ concerts at the Elb Philharmonie in Hamburg, Lausanne Cathedral, Flagey in Brussels, the Royal Albert Hall in London as well as the Southbank Royal Festival Hall, Rochester Jazz Festival (US), St Olafs Minneapolis (US), Stavanger Konserthus, Aarhus Philharmonic Musikhuset, Darmstadt Organ Festival, Stuttgart Organ Festival, Laurenskerke in Rotterdam, Orgelpark in Amsterdam, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church at Berlin Jazz Festival, and the BBC Proms amongst many others. He holds a fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he himself studied and now teaches. He has twice been awarded 1st place in Downbeat’s Critics Poll Rising Star for Organ and Keyboard categories respectively, and his ECM records ‘Obsidian‘, ‘Dreamlife of Debris‘ and ‘Vermillion‘ have been released to much critical acclaim.
Tony Buck is regarded as one of Australia’s most creative and adventurous exports, with vast experience across the globe. As a drummer, percussionist, improviser, guitarist, video maker and producer, he has been involved in a highly diverse array of projects but is probably best known around the world as a member of the trio “The Necks”. Apart from The Necks he has played, toured or recorded with Jon Rose, Otomo Yoshihide, John Zorn, T. Cora, Phil Minton, Haino, Even Parker, The Machine for Making Sense, Lee Ranaldo, Ne Zhdall, The EX, Clifford Jordan, Ground Zero … Following studies and early experience in Australia he spent time in Japan, where he formed “Peril” with Otomo Yoshihide and Kato Hideki before relocating to Europe in the mid-nineties. Some of the more high profile projects he has been involved with include the band Kletka Red, and touring and recording with, among others, The EX, The Exiles, and Corchestra, and involvement with most of the international improvisation and new music community and festivals. He also creates video works for use with live music performance and has had pieces shown in Tokyo, Belfast, Berlin, New York and Sydney. Current projects include a LIVE solo adaption of the UNEARTH music, incorporating installations, video, drums and guitar; “Spill” with Magda Mayas; “Transmit” (a guitar driven post-rock project); New York based trio “Glacial” (with David Watson and Lee Ranaldo); “Circadia” (with Kim Myhr, David Stackenas and Joe Williamson); a long standing duo with Axel Doerner as well as a continuing in ad hoc and improvised performance settings.
Thorbjørn Stefansson, a renowned double bassist and composer, is widely recognized as a versatile artist within the European improvised music scene. He is an integral part of both the Danish and German jazz scenes and has collaborated with numerous national and international artists. Thorbjørn is involved in several projects and released the debut album with the trio Dream Big Fish in 2024. Other releases include “Sun Ark” (2024), “Nissen Mosh – Precious” (2022), and “Rasmus Holm Quartet – Fatamorgana” (2021). In 2021, he received the JIB-Jazz-Prize for “Outstanding Soloist”. Thorbjørn has toured in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the USA, performing at internationally acclaimed jazz festivals, as well as appearing live on radio broadcasts such as Radio Brandenburg Berlin (RBB), Deutschlandfunk Kultur, P8 Jazz, and Radio Jazz Denmark.
Elemi is a fragrant resin obtained from trees in the Canarium genus, native to tropical regions, particularly in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. It has been used for centuries in perfumes, incense, and traditional medicine. Elemi resin has a fresh, lemony, and slightly spicy scent with balsamic undertones. It is often described as both uplifting and calming, making it ideal for use in rituals or meditation. Known for its healing and purifying properties, Elemi has also been applied in aromatherapy to promote mental clarity, reduce stress, and aid in emotional balance. In ancient times, it was used in ointments and embalming practices, similar to myrrh and frankincense. Its soft, sticky texture is often used in making incense, where its rich, grounding aroma creates a soothing and spiritual atmosphere.