Enemy

Enemy is a modern jazz piano trio from England composed of veteran jazzmen <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Kit Downes</a> (piano), <a href="spotify:artist:2q0DyP2pqqNHI4OiC50IKx">Petter Eldh</a> (bass), and <a href="spotify:artist:6ke4GTfhO9er0IPiwHW1Zw">James Maddren</a> drums. Their crystalline, spacious sound embodies everything from intricately composed to strategically improvised harmonic statements to fiercely intense yet focused dissonance. Their recordings and tours have endeared them to audiences and critics across Europe. Their eponymous debut appeared in 2018 on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Edition+Records%22">Edition Records</a> and revealed them at the time as a hard-driving, stubbornly interactive unit. 2022's Vermillion appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22ECM%22">ECM</a>, a chamber music-esque execution that showcased the contrasting composition approaches of <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2q0DyP2pqqNHI4OiC50IKx">Eldh</a>. In April of that year, the trio entered Berlin's Hansa Studios and recorded, produced, and mixed a dozen original tunes in a single day. The recordings were released as Betrayal in September 2023.

After spending the early part of 2016 working clubs (they don't rehearse since they tour so often), in October they entered London's Eastcote recording studio with engineer George Murphy. Following two days of recordings, <a href="spotify:artist:2q0DyP2pqqNHI4OiC50IKx">Eldh</a> mixed the tapes and Enemy licensed the recordings to <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Edition+Records%22">Edition Records</a>, which released an eponymous album in May 2018. It followed <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a>' debut <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22ECM%22">ECM</a> solo piano album Obsidian, that was also recorded in 2016). Enemy's album won global acclaim, securing the trio gigs in Europe and at various jazz festivals. In 2019, <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a>' Dreamlife of Debris appeared on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22ECM%22">ECM</a> with an all-star cast. The bassist issued Petter Eldh Presents Koma Saxo on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22We+Jazz%22">We Jazz</a> the same year. <a href="spotify:artist:6ke4GTfhO9er0IPiwHW1Zw">Maddren</a>, a first-call session and performing drummer, had worked with <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a> as early as 2009 on the pianist's Golden. He was, and remains, the busiest member of the group. After the release of their debut, <a href="spotify:artist:6ke4GTfhO9er0IPiwHW1Zw">Maddren</a> played on Satori's In the Corners of Clouds, and on recordings by <a href="spotify:artist:6TyISUtrnzOpBY0RbdtFyc">Trish Clowes</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0QWrMNukfcVOmgEU0FEDyD">Jacob Collier</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6t8vZFJbrIDqBun3WkEJFU">Josephine Davies</a>, among others. When the trio did perform for an audience, they wowed them by making them feel they were part of the process of creation.

After being interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a> enlisted the Enemy trio for his sophomore <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22ECM%22">ECM</a> release, Vermillion. On the album sleeve, <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a> was listed as leader with his bandmates co-billed. It was not credited to Enemy, but the trio's members insisted it was their second album. Vermillion won critical notice in the United States as well the rest of the globe due to <a href="spotify:artist:5KAxF8BtuqO5emnRCjorwk">Downes</a>' considerable reputation as a lyrical improvising pianist; the excellent reviews enabled the trio to play a limited number of cities and festivals in support.

Enemy signed their own deal with <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22We+Jazz%22">We Jazz</a> and in April 2022 and entered Berlin's Hansa Studios with engineer Nanni Johansson. The trio produced and mixed the recording of a dozen songs they cut in a single day. Betrayal was released on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22We+Jazz%22">We Jazz</a> in September 2023. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi