Kevin Figes
“Treat this as a calling card for Figes’s skills as a soloist and composer”. JazzUK
“bodly eclectic introduction to his skills as both writer and playing”. Jazzwise
“Figes is a gutsy but thoughtful saxophonist and a skilful composer”. Vortex Jazz CD review
Alto-saxophonist Figes has an inclination to hard, rhythmical swing, and a contrasting gift for composing memorable, sensitive tunes. Independent on Sunday
Kevin Figes was a late-comer to Jazz. “I was 22 and my mum bought me a book on Jazz. I read it and went straight out and bought albums by Charlie Parker, Charlie Mingus, Coltrane and Miles. That was it. I was hooked.’ Within six months, Kevin had realised he wanted to play the music. “I saw an ad for sax lessons in Ray’s and that it was Elton Dean. I called him and he said, ‘Have you got an instrument?’ I said, ‘Not yet.’ He said, ‘Meet me in Pro Brass in Kentish Town tomorrow.’ I got there and Elton was trying these altos. He handed me one and said, ‘This will do you. Meet me tomorrow and you can have your first lesson.’”
Twenty years on and Kevin releases his first album, a record so fresh and confident, you wonder what held him back. A move from London to Bristol helped Kevin decide to turn pro, as did Elton Dean’s introduction to Keith Tippett. Kevin played in Keith’s Bristol workshop band and later joined his Big Band Tapestry. He also had lessons with Tim Garland, who persuaded him to take the post-grad course at the Guildhall, where he studied with Tim, Pete Churchill, Jean Toussaint and Simon Purcell. Circular Motion, his debut album with his quartet, is an album of lyrical, melodic music with a strong rhythmic sense.
Click to here to listen to an interview with Kevin Figes
