Harben Kay
- Saxophone
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Harben latest
Live at Dystopia
2022 Lunchtime Recitals
Best Instrumentalist, 2022
Harben released their debut album Moon Palace in 2017
Young Jazz Musician of the Year
Harben was awarded Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year in 2015
British national
UK resident
Harben Kay is a tenor saxophonist and composer based in London. Originally from Perth, Scotland, they moved to London in 2012 to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2016 with a First Class Degree in BMus Jazz (Hons). During their time studying, they were awarded the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year Award (2015). In 2021, they were selected to become a City Music Foundation Artist.
Harben released their debut album ’Moon Palace’ in 2017 after winning the Peter Whittingham Jazz Award the same year. The album, recorded with their KIM trio, was released on Ubuntu Music in December 2018. The album features David Ingamells on drums and Ferg Ireland on double bass.
[Kay and their trio] confirmed both their understated group virtuosity and command of narrative drive – Mike Hobart, Financial Times
Harben draws influence from different places which are important to them: Scotland, London, and New York, each of which have been their home during their career. While in New York, Harben had lessons with some of the greats of the contemporary jazz scene – Dayna Stephens, Melissa Aldana, Chris Cheek and Rodney Green.
Harben also plays with various groups such as Calum Gourlay Quartet, Issie Barratt’s Interchange Dectet, EuroRadio Jazz Orchestra 2017 and the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, and has performed at numerous festivals such as London Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival, as well as venues including Ronnie Scott’s, The Royal Albert Hall and The Vortex.
“Moon Palace leaves the listener wanting more of Kay’s rich playing… it’s remarkably self-assured and forecasts an imaginative career to come.’ Ammar Kalia, Downbeat