Stephen Davis announced as NAVIGATOR musician-in-residence at The Courthouse, Tinahely, Co. Wicklow, this November.
Rounding off a year of 7 residencies for jazz and improvising musicians in partnership with Arts Centres nationwide, through the Navigator programme, IMC are pleased to announce drummer and composer Stephen Davis as the musician in residence at The Courthouse in Tinahely Co. Wicklow this November.
The 10-day Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021, and since then 14 jazz & improvising musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners The Source Arts Centre, Thurles, Ballina Arts Centre and The Courthouse, Co. Wicklow. NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.
Belfast-based drummer Stephen (DAKIZ) Davis mainly plays jazz and improvised music. He is the drummer in Anthony Braxton group 'The New Standard’, and active in the UK and European improvised/creative music scenes. As well as Braxton he has worked with Mark Ribot, Evan Parker, Ralph Alessi, Kris Davis, Alexander Hawkins, John Taylor, Rufus Reid, Paul Dunmall, Django Bates, Van Morrison, Matthew Bourne and many others. He is a composer and has his own projects published on Babel Label London as well as Intakt records Switzerland. Steve is an assistant lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast.
For the best part of a decade, Davis has been one third of heavyweight UK free-jazz trio, Bourne Davis Kane, alongside pianist Matthew Bourne and double-bassist Dave Kane, releasing several highly regarded CDs including collaborations with veteran British saxophonist Paul Dunmall. He also leads the quartet, Human, featuring Alexander Hawkins, Alex Bonney and Dylan Bates, which released a debut album, Being Human, on Babel in 2013.
Stephen will spend time in Wicklow this November to develop his practice and engage with the local music community as part of IMC’s Navigator Residency programme.
“This is a great opportunity for me to spend some time composing new music for large ensemble as well as developing my drumming technique, in terms of using electronics with acoustic drums. To have this time to work intensively will be fun. Thanks to Courthouse Arts Centre and IMC for providing this residency. I look forward to connecting with the local community in Wicklow and getting inspired by the landscape there. I want to use my experience to inform the work and also to network with other artists.” — Stephen Davis, NAVIGATOR musician-in-residence
Kieran O’Toole, Director at Courthouse Arts Centre said:
“With Stephen Davis’ residency here at the Courthouse Arts Centre in partnership with IMC, we are excited to give time and space for the development of Stephen’s work in new and creative ways in this unique, rural setting in Co Wicklow, which has proved so inspiring for artists who have worked here before. We hope that connecting with the local community and establishing new musical partnerships will add new energies to Stephen’s music.”
The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC's commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.
The 2023 Navigator jazz residency programme has been expanded to 7 partners across the island of Ireland, with Garter Lane, Waterford, Riverbank Theatre, Newbridge and Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast joining the initial 4 other partners. Three of the residencies are programmed from IMC’s 30/30 programme and the other four residencies by an open call.