Bristol-based composer and saxophonist Kevin Figes has drawn on a variety of musical inspirations and enthusiasms for his newest album, “Wallpaper Music II”. Interview/ function by Phil Johnson.

If jazz is a music that regularly renews itself, the place that renewal comes from is an fascinating query. The Bristol-based composer and saxophonist Kevin Figes, whose wonderful new album ‘Wallpaper Music II’ (following, that’s proper, 2021’s predecessor, ‘Wallpaper Music’) takes very contemporary-sounding inspiration from the uncared for experimental art-rock and prog of the Seventies.

“The primary Wallpaper Music album was closely influenced by Henry Cow, along with up to date classical music, and likelihood, and concerned some lengthy freely improvised items”, says Figes. “The brand new album has a lot shorter items and explores song-form, people, and movie music way more. Influences embrace Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Artwork Bears (a Henry Cow offshoot), and Italian horror soundtracks.”

Removed from pastiche, the outcomes sound nearly indecently fashionable, maybe as a result of the influences – themselves closely affected by the jazz avant-garde – have by no means actually been assimilated, and even given a lot consideration exterior their context of ‘rock’, which in 1970 was a really unstable class. Seamlessly built-in into Figes’ music and lyrics, you could find marvellous echoes of Robert Wyatt’s sing-song intonation, say, in Brigitte Beraha’s distinctive vocals, and even the squelchy keyboard sounds of Mushy Machine’s Mike Ratledge, performed by the astonishingly gifted Jim Blomfield. He, together with Ashley John Lengthy on bass, and Mark Whitlam on drums, are regulars within the closely-connected Bristol scene, and reprise their roles from the earlier album, as does vocalist Beraha. Recorded on the iconic Rockfield Studios, house to Black Sabbath and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, ‘Wallpaper Music II’ sounds very good. 

The album’s sources even have a specific private relevance for Figes. Initially of his jazz profession he studied with the legendary alto participant Elton Dean, who had performed time within the second incarnation of Mushy Machine. Dean (whose first identify was appropriated by Reg Dwight aka Elton John) was additionally an essential affiliate of the genius-pianist, bandleader and composer/improviser Keith Tippett, with whom Figes performed in quite a few tasks proper as much as Tippett’s demise in 2020. Tippett, a local Bristolian who grew to become a powerhouse of the London jazz and experimental scene, additionally had his prog-credentials, working with the very talked-about King Crimson, whose Robert Fripp requested him to change into a full-time member (Tippett stated no, preferring hard-won independence).Tippett additionally fashioned the 50-piece orchestra Centipede, which broke the boundaries between jazz, rock and classical music.

“As a child I liked all types of pop and rock music, because it was known as”, Figes says of his attraction to the brand new album’s inspirations. “I first heard the Mushy Machine on the radio and was fascinated by it. Listening additional and shopping for albums I began to have an interest within the saxophone on the recordings. This led me into jazz, and I then consumed nearly any fashionable jazz album I may lay my palms on. Whereas I used to be dwelling in London I started saxophone classes with Elton, which was a little bit of a dream come true. So my musical life grew to become inextricably woven with all of the scenes talked about above.”

Figes’ homage to his influences can also be evident within the concurrent launch of a vinyl EP, which {couples} Elton Dean’s composition ’Seven For Lee’ with Keith Tippett’s ‘Inexperienced and Orange Night time Park’. Recorded with a distinct Bristol-based band, together with brass, it’s thrillingly full-throated jazz showcasing Figes on alto and soprano saxes.

The attraction to what’s usually known as the Canterbury scene, of Mushy Machine and the solo tasks of ex-members Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers, plus others, isn’t one thing Figes obsesses about. “I simply needed to look it up!”, he says. “And a tough definition appears to be an improvisational type that blends jazz, rock and psychedelia. Very English, with playful and fantastical lyrics. What’s to not like?”

The lyrics are one other very placing function of the brand new album, including a layer of additional complexity to the musical textual content. “I actually take pleasure in writing for a vocalist!”, says Figes, whose personal voice can also be heard on the recording. “The timbre of the voice is unmistakeable and might be blended with woodwind and so many different issues. However once you add phrases then it turns into one thing else and an entire totally different world opens up. What do you, as a author of lyrics, wish to say? What’s your message?  Or is it extra of an environment? That is what I discover fascinating: the sensation of the lyrics utterly merged with the music.”

 In a really becoming prog contact, Figes’ tune lyrics are printed on the within of the album’s gatefold sleeve. “‘Wallpaper Music II’ looks like a really pure growth from the earlier album”, Figes continues. “The writing course of was thrilling, attempting out new issues, and the band did an incredible job turning these concepts into music.”

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LINK: John Fordham’s 2021 function on the 2021 album Wallpaper Music

Kevin Figes‘s album Wallpaper Music II is launched on Pig Data – PIG15 – on 23 February, in affiliation with ECN Music.

LIVE DATES:

25 February – Bristol, St Georges (album launch)
25 March – Bathtub, The Bell
4 Might – Ambleside, Zeffirelli’s