Following news last month [www.marlbank.net/news/1037-nick-smart-s-trogon-to-debut] that trumpeter Trogon's debut album Tower Casa is due for release imminently digitally, the band's record company, Babel, has now confirmed a physical release on CD of 18 November by the Afro-Cuban flavoured band led by trumpeter Nick Smart, just days after the opening of the London Jazz Festival. Parliamentary award winning educator Smart, who heads up the jazz department of the Royal Academy of Music, initially made his name as a recording artist with his Remembering Nick Drake album joined by his band of the time, Black Eyed Dog, in 2005. Since then he has gigged and recorded extensively with JTQ and conducted Troyk-estra, the larger ensemble big brother of prog jazz guitar/organ/drums outfit Troyka that made its debut at the Jazzwise to the Power of 15 festival at Ronnie Scott's last year. The band, which takes its name from the national bird of Cuba, features new tunes by Smart and scintillating pianist Kishon Khan (known for his work with Arun Ghosh), and arrangements of Kenny Wheeler and Stan Sulzmann compositions.
Trogon pictured, from left to right, Chris Montague, Pete Eckford, Nick Smart, Kishon Khan, Dave Hamblett, and Denny ‘Jimmy’ Martinez