Kevin Figes & You Are Here – Seven for Lee / Green and Orange Night Park
My Only Desire Records, MOD006
Available 4th August 2023 on limited edition 7″ vinyl + all digital platforms
Saxophonist/composer Kevin Figes and his group You Are Here present this homage to two inspirational British jazz musicians – Keith Tippett and Elton Dean – with newly minted recordings of a classic track from each, pressed on a limited edition 7”.
You Are Here grew out of a celebration of the life of the vital improvising pianist/composer Keith Tippett (1947-2020), with whom Kevin Figes recorded and performed with. Made up of the finest players on the Bristol jazz scene, the band includes irrepressible drummer Tony Orrell (Paul Dunmall), Nostalgia 77 bassist Riaan Vosloo and Get the Blessing trumpeter Pete Judge.
They have added the music of Figes’ former teacher – and Soft Machine member – saxophonist/composer Elton Dean (1945-2006) to their repertoire and perform his groovy Township-jazz invoking composition “Seven for Lee”, which sees Figes’ soprano saxophone soaring over the loose-yet-funky rhythm section. The flip side takes you on cosmic jazz-rock journey through Tippett’s wonderful “Green and Orange Night Park”, with slow-building piano, percussion and horns gradually morphing into the mesmeric theme. The unhurried tempo helps to reveal the detail of the composition with Kevin’s alto solo a stunning highlight.
This is the first 7” in My Only Desire Records’ Brit Jazz 45s series, which will see contemporary jazz acts record two ‘60s/’70s British jazz compositions apiece, presenting them afresh to new audiences.
- Limited one-off pressing of 466 copies worldwide
- 7” vinyl housed in a reverse-board picture sleeve
- Mastered by and lacquer cut by Caspar Sutton-Jones @ Gearbox Records
Kevin Figes: soprano and alto saxophone
Pete Judge: trumpet
Raphael Clarkson: trombone
Jim Blomfield: piano
Riaan Vosloo: bass
Tony Orrell: drums, percussion
Seven for Lee composed by Elton Dean
Green and Orange Night Park composed by Keith Tippett
Recorded by Jim Barr at J & J Studio, Bristol
Mixed by Jim Barr & Kevin Figes
Press Quotes:
“Drawn from the spectacular contemporary Bristol scene, they deliver intense performances of Elton Dean’s ‘Seven For Lee’ and Keith Tippett’s ‘Green And Orange Night Park’. Striking artwork houses a silent GZ pressing of a Gearbox cut, courtesy of Caspar Sutton-Jones.” – Clash Magazine
“Figes worked with Tippett and his, and his group’s, admiration for the great man shines through on this irrepressible version of ‘Green and Orange Night Park’; the interpretation of Dean’s ‘Seven For Lee’ is just as good, with a great South African vibe. The packaging of the single is splendid, and Caspar Sutton-Jones at Gearbox has provided a meaty-sounding, crystal clear vinyl cut.” – Jazzwise
“An auspicious start to what looks to be an intriguing series of recordings that will have many of us scurrying back to the original recordings as well as embracing the new.” – Jazz Views