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Chip Wickham: Blue To Red
BySo there is a spiritual-jazz connection. But it is less pronounced than on Wickham's previous outing, Shamal Wind (Lovemonk, 2018). The greatest resonance on the new disc is with the late-1960s film music of Lalo Schifrin, channelled through soundtracks such as the one for Bullitt (1968). Partly it is Wickham's frequently urgent, vocalised flute. Partly it is the layered work of keyboard player Dan Goldman, who is heard on Fender Rhodes and Korg Minilogue. Partly it is the crisp, in-the-pocket drumming of Jon Scott, whose several manifestations include touring as a member of London reed player Shabaka Hutchings' Sons of Kemet. Partly it is because improvisation is of less concern than mood and texture.
Blue To Red is, in fact, both spiritual jazz and old school soundtrack-jazz, the latter realised with keyboard and production technologies many times more sophisticated than was available to Schifrin back in the day. The more blissed-out tracks ("Blue To Red," "The Cosmos," "Mighty Yusef") veer towards the spiritual-jazz end of the spectrum, the edgier tracks ("Route One," "Interstellar," "Double Cross") towards Schifrin. Indeed, there are moments, particularly in "Interstellar," when you might imagine you are watching the climactic car-chase scene in Bullitt, in which Steve McQueen chases down the baddies. But it all hangs together nicely and manages to sound both modern and pleasantly retro.
Like all Wickham's work, Blue To Red is undemanding but soothing (and we can always use some of that)the latter quality despite the fact that the concept for the album was, apparently, environmental catastrophe and Earth's flight from being blue towards a desolate Mars-like red.
Track Listing
Blue To Red; Route One; Interstellar; The Cosmos; Double Cross; Mighty Yusef.
Personnel
Chip Wickham
woodwindsDan Goldman
keyboardsSimon Houghton
bass, acousticAmanda Whiting
harpJon Scott
drumsRick Weedon
percussionAlbum information
Title: Blue To Red | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: LoveMonk Records
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