Kris Davis – a pianist-composer who offers “uncommon creative adventure,” says JazzTimes – releases her first quintet album, the characteristically kaleidoscopic Capricorn Climber, via Clean Feed Records on February 1, 2013. Long favored by her peers and jazz fans in the know, Davis has earned high praise from no less than star pianist and MacArthur “Genius” Grant honoree Jason Moran, who included her in his Best of 2012 piece in Art Forum, writing: “A freethinking, gifted pianist on the scene, Davis lives in each note that she plays. Her range is impeccable; she tackles prepared piano, minimalism and jazz standards, all under one umbrella. I consider her an honorary descendant of Cecil Taylor and a welcome addition to the fold.” This sixth album as a leader from the Vancouver-born, Brooklyn-based Davis sees her joined by kindred spirits Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Mat Maneri (viola), Trevor Dunn (double-bass) and Tom Rainey (drums).
The seeds of Capricorn Climber were sown with an all-improvised show at the intimate club Barbès in Brooklyn, with the quintet lineup meshing so well together that Davis was inspired to compose an album’s worth of music for the group – while aiming to retain the fresh, spontaneous feel of that initial performance.