Neil Cowley Trio Signs To Candid Records Imprint Cake
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
The Neil Cowley Trio has signed to new Candid records imprint Cake. The trio of pianist Neil Cowley, bassist Richard Sadler and drummer Evan Jenkins is set to release its debut for the label Loud... Louder... Stop in March, a follow up to Displaced.
Neil Cowley told Jazzwise: "With Candid on board it feels like we have extended our family, a policy that we have employed right from the start, ensuring that each and every person involved in the project has a genuine affinity and enthusiasm for what we are putting out. It was down to who made us laugh, who showed us their excitement at the prospect of working together, and who spent Christmas pulling crackers while thinking of venues for our launch gig. We decided to keep it British and sign up to Candid Records’ fresh new imprint, Cake and its contemporary Brit ethic. We have never aspired to lofty American ensembles in our music; and by signing to a British label I think we have cast in stone the pride we feel in being a British band."
Candid chief executive officer Alan Bates says: "The Neil Cowley Trio is at the forefront of the burgeoning British jazz music world and fits precisely into the ethos of our new label Cake which has been established to create a platform for these dynamic new bands and artists."
The new label has also signed the jazz trip hop band The Blessing that includes two members of seminal Bristol mid-1990s group Portishead. "NCT will join The Blessing", Mr Bates says, "in benefiting from the creative front office philosophy of a contemporary, forward thinking and edgy indie label in Cake but with a strong back-office and established distribution system worldwide though Candid."
The establishment of Cake reflects a new A&R strategy at Candid after a mixed run of signings and sub-labels since Jamie Cullum and Clare Teal were signed five years. The move also marks a switch towards instrumental jazz. Label manager James Wright, who has been involved in the development of the imprint and the new signings as well as the creation of a new booking agency for Candid called Music Bridge says: "One of Cake's priorities in 2008 is it's focusing on live music and in this sector it is working in partnership with Candid's current live booking agency Music Bridge. The record industry as we know it is in tumultuous revolution with declining sales in the traditional manner but the live music business is thriving and live music is where we are all heading. Our focus for the Neil Cowley Trio will be on an international level."
Report: Stephen Graham