Kai Craig Trio

Sean Payne (Sax), Géraud Portal (Bass), Kai Craig (Drums)
KAI CRAIG, WHAT CAN I SAY? HE’S THE NEXT WAVE OF BADASS DUDES WHO
CAN TAKE THE INSTRUMENT TO A NEW LEVEL. HE’S GOT THE TOOLS TO BE
GREAT. - GREGORY HUTCHINSON
Born in Brighton, UK (2000), Kai first picked up sticks at the age of 2 and began studying
with his father at the age of 6. Kai’s musical inspiration was sparked by hearing recordings
from his father’s record collection. His early exposure to a wide range of music, and the
playing styles connected to them, enabled him to develop his initial understanding of music,
and planted the seed from which his own playing approach grew.
Kai moved to London aged 18 to study at the Royal Academy of Music, from which he
graduated in 2022. He is grateful to have been mentored by Gregory Hutchinson since 2020.
In the past, he is also honoured to have studied with Kenny Washington, Tyshawn Sorey,
Marcus Gilmore and Francesco Ciniglio and enjoyed opportunities to work with the likes of
Soweto Kinch, seamus blake, Raynald Colom, Géraud Portal, Francesco Cafiso, jon gordon,
Romain Pilon, Kit Downes, Graeme Blevins, Nigel Price, Ivo Neame, Franck Amsallem, Stan
Sulzmann, Giacamo Smith, Gareth Lockrane, Laurence Cottle and Anders Jormin. Whilst in
London, Kai performed at venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean Street, The
Vortex and The 606, with select performances at the Royal Albert Hall, Birmingham
Symphony Hall and the Southbank Centre. 
Following his graduation, Kai lived in Paris. he played regularly in the city and further afield
throughout Europe. Kai is currently based in Brooklyn, New York, where he will be based for
the foreseeable future. In January 2024, Kai recorded his debut album in Köln, Germany with
Sean Payne, James Copus, Rainer Böhm and Géraud Portal, at River Studios. ‘A Time Once
Forgotten’, Kai’s debut album was released august 2025 on whirlwind recordings.