The SNJO’s Nu-Age Sounds concert series puts the focus on rising stars of the Scottish scene, including vocalist kitti.
To say that Katie Doyle is excited at the prospect of taking part in the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s upcoming Nu-Age Sounds concerts would be a considerable understatement.
The Paisley-born singer, who goes by the name of kitti, has experienced a few “pinch myself” moments in her career. There was her winning of the Female Breakthrough title at the Scottish Music Awards in 2020, followed by the Best Vocalist prize at the Scottish Jazz Awards later the same year. She won the latter title again in 2022.
Being invited to sing with the SNJO, however, was possibly the biggest surprise. After all, following in the footsteps of previous SNJO guests Kurt Elling and Jazzmeia Horn is no small deal.
“Other than having a few friends who have been players in the orchestra, I’d had practically no involvement with the SNJO until now,” she says. “I’m a lover of big band swing music, as I was raised listening to the likes of Duke Ellington’s orchestra, so to have been contacted by the SNJO was quite a thrill.”
When she found out what was involved – she’ll be singing three of her own songs, arranged specially by the Berlin-based saxophonist, composer and bandleader Fabia Mantwill, in concerts featuring new music by a group of Scottish trailblazers including pianist Fergus McCreadie and saxophonists Matt Carmichael and Helena Kay – kitti was overwhelmed.
She needn’t feel this way. The SNJO’s artistic director, saxophonist Tommy Smith, whose idea it was to showcase Scotland’s young jazz talents in an orchestral setting, has expressed his delight at having kitti onboard for Nu-Age Sounds, recognising the singer as “very much part of Scotland’s thriving young jazz scene.”
Now in her late twenties, kitti has been working within Scotland’s music scene generally since her teens. She’s sung with rock bands and played her fair share of jazz gigs, handling the standards repertoire, and for the past five years she has been leading her own band, focusing on her own material.
“I would say my own writing can be described as ‘jazz infused soul,’” she says. “I’m gearing up to release my debut album this year. It’s all very exciting and this project with the SNJO has just made it even more so.”
As well as those mentioned above, the full cast of Nu-Age Sounds includes trombonists Noushy (Anoushka Nanguy, already an established player with the SNJO) and Liam Shortall, who has enjoyed international acclaim with his corto.alto project. Bassist Ewan Hastie, winner of the BBC Young Jazz Musician title in 2022, has composed two pieces to be arranged by regular SNJO collaborator, German pianist-composer Florian Ross. And pianist Peter Johnstone will be subbing for Fergus McCreadie on his As the Mist Clears on the final concert as well as playing with Smith’s KARMA band and the SNJO on all three nights.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have my own compositions brought to life by the orchestra,” says kitti. “I can’t wait to hear how everyone else’s music is going to sound but I’m honestly overwhelmed with joy at the idea of my music being arranged by Fabia Mantwill. Just to have her listen to one of my songs would be a big deal. So I can’t wait to hear her arrangements and to perform them in these concerts with the SNJO.”
The SNJO’s Nu-Age Sounds is at Dundee Rep Theatre on Friday 1 March; the Old Fruitmarket, Candleriggs, Glasgow on Saturday 2 March, and the Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh on Sunday 3 March.
