Currently in the top 10 of UK jazz and blues releases in terms of official sales, who can’t but kick back and relax to the sound of flautist-saxist composer, the ever natty, Chip Wickham? Cloud 10 we loved in 2022.
Quite easy listening nevertheless but not overly so given the firm life belt thrown by the extensively generous vamps found all over. These are often rooted by the big fat chunky double bass of Simon ‘Sneaky’ Houghton. ‘Drifting’ is a winner from the beginning.
And these winners provide an all you can eat spiritual jazz buffet. Formed almost entirely of sole penned Wickham tunes but Peaches’ slightly mannered vocals on ‘Nara Black’ I didn’t warm to quite as much. But the title track works even more effectively built from the bass up.
George Cooper’s Fender Rhodes electric piano contributions on ‘Lost Souls’ definitely elevate the listening experience at this particular point of the album. Snowboy’s congas in the sound at numerous points are vital. Strings fatten out the sound on ‘The Road Less Travelled’ which is dominated by an A Love Supreme-like bass ostinato. If there’s one word to take way from all this it’s the Japanese concept of Ikigai – there’s a tune with a big flute feature quite magically from Wickham on a track that takes on that name. The thinking refers to the things that bring value, joy, and purpose to your life.
– Embrace these by hearing the Wickham sound at Horatio’s, Brighton on 19 October. Chappie hails from Brighton. In a cracking bill the swinging Sultan Stevenson opens for the flautist that night. Photo: Bandcamp
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