DoomCannon

DoomCannon (aka Dominic Canning) is a London-based composer, producer, arranger, pianist / keyboardist and educator. His work melds organic and synthetic sounds in a collision of jazz from neo-bop to contemporary to modal jazz, and copious intersections between drums and electronic beats alongside textures from classical and film music, and West African and Caribbean styles. He spear headed several forward-thinking, jazz-inspired outfits on London's vitally creative scene, including Steam Down collective, Project Karnak and Triforce. He served as musical director for neo soul singer Celeste. DoomCannon's first single, 2021's live "Amalgamation" wed progressive jazz, skittering beats, and South and West African harmonics. He signed to Brownswood and in February 2022, issued a dramatic studio version with an octet . He followed with the singles "Times" in March, and "Black Liberation" in May. Alongside six others, all three tracks appeared on the full length album Renaissance in July. Born Dominic Canning in South London, his musical education began in public school outreach program SMS (Southwark Music Services). He learned to play flute at eight and went on to learn alto/ tenor saxophone and classical piano. From the time he studied flute, he also developed an abiding-- and ultimately dominant-- interest in jazz piano. He was so enamored with the instrument, he taught himself to play and improvise. At 16, he began taking formal jazz lessons at Kingsdale Foundation School with Adam Glasser. He auditioned at Middlesex University and was accepted on scholarship. There he formed Triforce along with Mansur Brown, Benjamin Appiah and Ricco Komolafe. They sent a demo to Jazz Re:freshed who signed them. Their 2016 debut single "Free Your Mind," featured vocalist Vanessa Jamieon. The full length Triforce 5ive followed later that year. The track "Walls" was later selected for the seminal 2018 Brownswood compilation We Out Here. Following his departure, he created the jazz-influenced drum 'n' bass production outfit Project Karnak. Their self-released digital debut single "Fellowship" appeared in February and won notice across the globe allowing them to travel to Brazil and perform as part of a package tour booked by production company British Underground and Jazz Re:freshed.  Before leaving on tour. Upon return they issued the five track Equinox EP. In 2018 Canning met saxophonist Ahnansé (aka Wayne Francis). They began playing together and Canning became a founding member of Jazz-FM award-winning Steam Down producers and musicians collective. While playing at one of the organization's weekly Wednesday night gigs -- among the most consistently sold out gigs in London -- he was approached by British neo-soul singer Celeste to join her band as musical director. He spent almost four years with the American/British neo soul singer songwriter, recording her breakout single "Both Sides Of The Moon" in 2018. The Lately EP appeared the following year to rave reviews internationally. The group toured incessantly. Canning left that gig after a late 2020/early 2021 jaunt across Europe. At the end of 2020, Canning began assembling a band to record under his alter ego, DoomCannon. Jazz Re:freshed signed him to a one-off and released the live single "Amalgamation" in February 2021. Already well acquainted with Canning via his other projects, Brownswood Recordings signed him. In February 2022 issued a re-recorded studio version of "Amalgamation" showcasing an octet version of DoomCannon. The jazz quartet included Canning on piano, keyboards and production, with saxophonist / electronicist Kaidi Akinnibi, guitarist Daniel Rogerson, and drummer Oscar Ogden. On the recording they were buoyed by a string quartet (violinists Marsha Skinns and Saskia Horton, violist Natalia Senior Brown, and cellist Wayne Uquhart. The track won radio and club airplay across Europe, Asia and South America. DJs and critics tried to outdo one another in their effusive praise. In March this expanded incarnation (now seemingly permanent) followed with "Times," featuring London rapper/DJ Lex Amour. DoomCannon had also added double bassist Thea Sayer to the lineup. In May the provocative, "Black Liberation," an eight minute track with as spoken word prologue appeared to laudatory reviews. In July, DoomCannon issued the nine track full length Renaissance on Brownswood; it was supported with an international tour.
© Thom Jurek /TiVo