Pete Kubryk-Townsend (Bass)

At 16 Pete moved to Paris where he then spent several years enjoying the freedom of gigging and busking around France and other European countries until he moved back to his native London in '86.
Pete then worked as a professional Double Bass player becoming involved in the eclectic styles of music London has to offer. On the Jazz stage he was a member of Spirit Level from 1990 - 97 and he performed with most of the countries top jazz names, Jim Mullen, Mornington Lockett, Don Rendall to name a few and backing some American artists; Ron Jackson, Spike Robinson and Jean Tousaint, also the Israeli Sax Virtuoso, Gilad Atzmon.
Pete was a member of the Bop Brothers Blues Band featuring Dick Hextal-Smith, and played with “Otis Grand’s” for a couple of years.
Branching out with his love for poetry he played the Festival Hall backing the vibes of the great wordsmith 'The Night Hawk of Chicago'. Ken Nordine; inspired Pete who went on to make his own form of 'Jazz Poetry’ in the beatnik tradition as heard on his latest album ...View From an Ancient Mountain.
Music from other far away places has always been of interest to Pete and he worked extensively with many artists from around the world including Hassa Eraraji, Mervin Afrika and Hugh Masekela. Pete was a student of Cachaoito Lopez from the Buena Vista Social Club, and has regularly worked with Cuban and Latin bands from the London area.
He has recently toured with Balkan folk band Szapora, the Classical Organ Giant Wayne Marshal, and is working regularly with the two of the greatest Gypsy Guitarists alive, Angelo Debarre and Fapy Lafertin. Pete has also worked with Birelli Legrene and many performances with John Etheridge and his band Sweet Chorus.

Pete is now living in Penryn Cornwall teaching on the Jazz Degree Course at Truro College. Also collaborating with Viv Rodd the Cornish Giant of Jazz Piano with their forthcoming Trio album ‘Sketches’.
He is presently releasing his new solo album of contemporary folk jazz sounds ‘Where two rivers meet’.

Rock on Daddio and long may it last...grooving the hemisphere of ultra space funk gypsy be-bop. Peace and Love to the world, good coffee and a large body of water for emersion, preferably clean and deep, yeah man deep!

"Kubryk-Townsend's solo spot shook as many solar plexus as it did heads - these shook in astonishment at the complex diversity of sounds he drew from his instrument"
Andrea Charters - North Devon Journal

Pete Kubryk-Townsend displayed great taste and sympathy for the genre. His bowed solo was real highlight"

"...on-the-nose bass playing..."
Rob Adams - Glasgow Herald

“….His extraordinary cooking walking line is second to none!” Iazz Podium