Review of PD3 with Dick Pearce Live

"From moment to moment (Downes') evocations leap from hairy rock-tinged John Scofield (Killer Joe), to howling Hendrix (Straight No Chaser) to rhapsodic-acoustic Ralph Towner (View in Blue).

His alert comping enables Pearce's trumpet to really stretch out over Coe and Bruce's beats. Pearce has always demonstrated a naturally elegant turn of phrase and a secure lip that, unlike others, rarely if ever lets him down."
Jack Massarik

Review of
Street Scene

"Tone, nuance and balance are their strong points.Pete Downes (the 'PD' of the title) plays guitar, both electric and acoustic, with a distinctively bright and crystalline sound, while bassist Andy Coe and drummer Tim Bruce match him to perfection."
Dave Gelly
Full review

Review of
Street Scene

Sounding both relaxed and contemporary simultaneously, PD3 represents a cohesive trio of guitar, bass and drums. These three are well versed in the art of collective improvisation and seamlessly interwoven lines.
Derek Ansell
Full review

Review of
Into the Blue

"The sound of the Pete Downes Trio is a thing of beauty, and their latest album is a perfect reflection of this. Featuring a well balanced blend of new tracks and covers of diverse classics from the likes of Thelonious Monk, Sting and Jimi Hendrix, it's easy to hear why the appeal of PD3 is growing at a healthy rate."
"Into The Blue, immediately casts a hazy spell which makes you think that if they listened to jazz in heaven, this would probably be it."
Zoe Street
Full Review

Live at Glastonbury Festival

"Delivering airily sublime takes of Pat Metheny's 'James', and the booty-shaking groove of Earnest Ranglin's 'Surfin' with equal aplomb, PD3 were one of the many highlights at the new Jazz Lounge at this year's Glastonbury, garnering whoops of approval and pleas for an encore from the happy alternative crowd to their regular club environment.
" Formerly The Pete Downes Trio, this is a band forging a strong identity with unabashed playing and forthright delivery, not necessarily playing 'jazz' or 'fusion' - just good music, with strong originals to back up the quality covers."
Mike Flynn
Sept 04

Bob Bevan-Jones

Review of PD3 & Dick Pearce Live

"This is jazz that spans many different moods and intensities, ranging from a comtemplative arrangement of Mozart's “Requiem” through to Marcus Miller's funky “Tutu”. I say it's a tribute to the skills of both soloists that they achieve these mood changes without showing any joins."

Full review

Review of
Into the Blue

"PD3 have surpassed all my expectations with an album that is nothing short of brilliant.
"This was the album PD3 were meant to record, like Floyd's Dark Side Of the Moon or Miles Davies' Kind Of Blue - ultimately listenable without a single bad track."
Gareth Forman
Guardian

Full article is here

Review of
Into the Blue

When I first heard this trio a year or so ago I was very pleasantly surprised at the variety of approaches they used.
This is an album that shows the trio developing and consolidating their sound while expanding the sources from which they draw material and it is one that I would recommend highly.
Paul Donnelly
Full review

Review of
Into the Blue

This is an album of free flowing energy played by very capable musicians who pull off some adventurous arrangements and provide a marvellous overall balance. A sure hit with all jazz guitar fans and comes highly recommended.
Wes Gillespie
Full review

Review of
Street Scene

Review of
Street Scene

Together they have put together a set of self-composed tunes that explore notions of what a jazz guitar trio might be about.
Paul Donnelly
Full review.

Review of
Street Scene

"The diversity and restrained virtuosity of this trio make them a striking and unique addition to the new wave of top British jazz artists. The music on Street Scene is fresh and uncluttered, complicated yet subtle. One of my favourite guitar albums of the year."
David Carr

Review of
Into the Blue

"Great ability and great talent without pointless virtuosity. A good project in which thegroup COMMUNICATE their soul.
A singular and particular "fusion" music, more profound than I have heard these last years, with a great sensibility.
Bruno Pollacci
AnimaJazz

This is the sound of three like-minded musical souls who have harenessed many years of combined experience to produce a warm and satisfying record.
This versatile trio offer up an engaging body of work which contain strong melodies amid its experimental edges.
Neill Barston
Full review.

It is not often I find anything good to say about CDs which land on my desk. However this was not the case with a wonderful new CD Street Scene by PD3..
There are ten tracks on Street Scene and not one bad one among them
Gareth Foreman
Full article