by Ian Mann
May 16, 2013
/ ALBUM
This is a very exciting band and their new album is a good candidate for Figes' best yet.
Kevin Figes Quartet
“Tables And Chairs”
(Pig Records PIG 04)
Bristol based saxophonist, flautist and composer Kevin Figes is a versatile musician who appears in a number of different bands across a variety of jazz genres. I’ve seen him perform with the Resonations Big Band, the Dave Stapleton Quintet and as a leader of his own groups.
Figes concentrates on saxophone as a leader of his own bands, mainly playing alto but also sometimes performing on baritone. His latest quartet release is his fourth album as a leader following two previous quartet recordings “Circular Motion” (Edition Records 2008) and “Hometime” (2010), the first release on Figes’ own Pig Records imprint. These albums featured Bristol based pianist Jim Blomfield plus the London rhythm team of Riaan Vosloo (double bass) and Tim Giles (drums). Those records explored broadly post bop territory but Figes has also recorded with the more funk and fusion orientated 4 Sided triangle featuring Mike Outram on guitar, Dan Moore on Fender Rhodes and sometime Get The Blessing member Daisy Palmer at the drums. This group’s eponymous début was released on Pig Records in 2012.
For his latest offering Figes has returned to the classic quartet configuration, retaining the services of Blomfield and bringing in an all new West Country based rhythm pairing of Will Harris on double bass and Mark Whitlam, recently seen and heard with trumpeter Nick Malcolm, at the drums. The quartet are currently on a Jazz Services supported UK tour and I was lucky enough to catch the first night at the Queens Head in Monmouth. On the evidence of their performance there I’d urge anyone reading this to get out and see them if you can, this is a very exciting band and their new album is a good candidate for Figes’ best yet.
Figes’ inspirations include Ornette Coleman (“Clutter” from “Circular Motion” which served as the encore at Monmouth gave evidence of that) but recently he’s also fallen under the spell of more contemporary altoists such as David Binney. It was the Binney influence that struck me when I first heard “Tables And Chairs” and it seemed to me that although this record may have been recorded in Penarth, South Wales it still had something of a New York vibe to it.
Figes’ eight original compositions cover a lot of ground with the opening title track’s clipped alto phrasing and the hip hop influenced bass and drum grooves immediately expressing something of that New York/Binney influence. Harris’ sturdy bass is at the heart of the piece which includes a fluent but urgent solo from Figes with Blomfield following on Rhodes.
“Here You Are” is a two part composition, initially an abstract ballad that begins with just bass and alto before expanding to bring in the whole band. It may be gentler and less frenetic but there’s still an element of “edge”. Solos come from Figes on alto and Blomfield at the piano, the latter particularly flowing and lyrical. Blomfield is a fluent and adventurous soloist and at Monmouth he frequently threatened to upstage the leader despite being confined to just the Rhodes.
The second half of “Here You Are” is a return to the energetic feel of the title track. Blomfield’s insistent piano vamp is the catalyst for features from Whitlam and Figes.
“Scrap Board” begins in breezy Latin inflected fashion before Harris’ powerful bass motif re-establishes something of that New York vibe. The prevailing mood alternates throughout the track and along the way there’s some inspired soloing from Figes and Bloomfield plus an engaging feature for Harris who enters into dialogue with his drum partner above the backdrop of Blomfield’s sparse piano chording.
“New Clothes” is another excellent example of the quartet’s energetic Binney inspired post bop. Propelled by an urgent bass and drum groove the piece features a series of exciting alto/Rhodes exchanges which hot up increasingly as the track progresses. The piece is climaxed by a drum feature from Whitlam above Figes’ repeated saxophone phrases.
“For Becky” is an unashamedly beautiful ballad with Figes adopting a softer tone on the alto and with gently lyrical solos from Harris at the bass and Blomfield at the piano and Figes himself with Whitlam adding discreet and sympathetic support.
“Fortunately Unfortunately” opened the Monmouth show and adopts a funk/fusion groove as Figes takes elements of 70’s/80’s smooth jazz and updates them in a contemporary jazz setting that frames excellent solos from himself and Blomfield.
“Last Outpost” begins atmospherically with the gentle probing of Fige’s alto but metamorphoses into a Blomfield piano feature, a lengthy unaccompanied passage embracing minimalist ideas and a gentle dissonance. Later there’s an extended dialogue between Blomfield and Figes before the saxophonist plays us out, soloing anthemically and at length with full band accompaniment before a gentle alto/piano coda.
For the final item “Hability” Figes unleashes his baritone to solo with power and an admirable fluency on a funk flavoured offering that also offers outings for Harris on bass,the impressive Blomfield on Rhodes plus a final feature from Whitlam.
“Tables And Chairs” is an highly accomplished album of contemporary jazz with strong melodic themes and plenty of bright rhythmic ideas. Although conspicuously influenced by American models (plus Brazilian composer and multi instrumentalist Hermeto Pascoal) it’s a convincing piece of work in its own right covering a variety of jazz bases and with excellent contributions from all four protagonists. Figes and Blomfield are frequently inspired soloists and Harris and Whitlam are a flexible and adaptable pairing more than capable of handling the often complex rhythmic challenges Figes throws their way. What’s more they can swing and groove when required too.
As mentioned previously the band are currently out on the road touring this material. I thoroughly enjoyed their show at Monmouth and you can catch them at the following venues;
Kevin Figes Quartet at the Colston Hall Foyer, Bristol
When: Fri May 17 17:00 - 19:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at Baker Street, Swindon
When: Tue May 21 20:00 - 22:30
Kevin Figes Quartet at Matt and Phreds Manchester
When: Thu June 6 20:45 - 23:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at the Brass Pig Clifton Bristol
When: Sun June 16 18:00 - 20:30
Kevin Figes Quartet at the Jam House Birmingham
When: Tue June 18 20:45 - 23:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at Bristol Fringe Cafe Bar ( formerly the Greyhound) Clifton Village, Bristol
When: Thu July 4 20:45 - 23:15
Kevin Figes Quartet at Manchester Jazz Festival
With Jim Blomfield, Mark Whitlam and Will Harris
When: Thu August 1 17:00 - 18:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at St Ives Jazz Club
When: Tue August 27 20:00 - 23:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at St Austell Jazz
When: Wed August 28 20:45 - 23:45
Kevin Figes Quartet at the Sound Cellar Poole
When: Thu August 29 20:45 - 23:00
Kevin Figes Quartet at Bristol Fringe Cafe Bar ( formerly the Greyhound) Clifton Village, Bristol
With Jim Blomfield, Will Harris and Mark Whitlam
When: Thu September 12 20:45 - 22:45