Jazz Quintet Knats Releases New Self-Titled Album | LISTEN!

KNATS RELEASE SELF-TITLED ALBUM

RECENTLY ON TOUR WITH GEORDIE GREEP (BLACK MIDI) + EDDIE CHACON

Last Friday, Newcastle Upon Tyne quintet Knats released its debut, self-titled album via London analogue specialist label Gearbox Records (Elliot Galvin, Cahill//Costello, Village Of the Sun).

Knats comes on the heels of an incendiary year for the band including supporting Geordie Greep (black midi) and playing as the backing band for R&B legend Eddie Chacon on UK tours. They also played a sold out Jazz Refreshed headliner, supported Str4ta at a sold Jazz Cafe, and performed at the BBC Proms.

Led by two lifelong best friends from Newcastle, Stan Woodward (bass) and King David-Ike Elechi (drums), Knats pride themselves on making “Geordie Jazz”, with sophisticated arrangements, strong melodies and danceable grooves. The band have developed an enviable word-of-mouth ascent. This debut album marks the beginning of the Knats’ sound, proper. It is a materialisation of the musical journey Stan and King have been on together over the past 10 years, drawn directly from their experiences growing up in the West End of Newcastle upon Tyne—overcoming hardship and figuring things out on their own. Eventually, they found their missing link: the virtuosic young Geordie trumpet player, Ferg Kilsby, who, with his slick melodic ideas, completes the full sound that is Knats.

In its entirety, this album is dedicated to Knats’ loved ones; Stan’s composition and recent single “Tortuga (For me Mam)” shows his love and appreciation of his Mam, while “Se7en”, a darker tune, expresses his emotional relationship with his Dad, formerly “DJ Se7en”. “Adaeze” is a tribute to King’s late sister, taken from a gospel folk tune, incorporating West African percussive breaks and instrumentation. Acting as a message to all those who may know someone suffering with mental health to check on those around them and be that helping hand they might need.

Their rendition of Joe Henderson’s “Black Narcissus” combines adrenaline-fuelled, up-tempo drumming with groove inflected resplendent basslines and passionate sax, perfectly encapsulating their infectious energy.

The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle is not to be overlooked.

Photo Credit: Ellie Slorick

Nick Loss-Eaton Media