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Kevin Figes Quartet - Circular Motion

Edition Records – EDN1002

RELEASED: 21st July 2008

Kevin Figes (alto sax)
Jim Blomfield (piano)
Riaan Vosloo (bass)
Tim Giles (drums)

Kevin Figes has enjoyed a long, fruitful and fascinating expedition through the world of jazz music and a fair bit of it is revealed on this album. He has learned from an eclectic range of sources including Elton Dean, Tim Garland, Keith Tippett and Jean Toussaint and uses and plays through styles as varied as freeform and funk. His music is buoyant and nimble, making it entirely accessible, yet the apparent delicacy is contradicted by the intricacy and denseness exposed as the essence at its heart.

Circular Motion is I think an individual and private commentary on the saxophonist’s musical history. Its gamut extends from the glitter of ‘Listless’, through the freeform autonomy of ‘Clutter’ to the soulful charm of ‘Song for Sometime’.

Personal statement this may be, but the trio of pianist Jim Blomfield, Riaan Vosloo on bass and drummer Tim Giles also work with considerable understanding of the project to achieve an album of significant. You will enjoy it.

Reviewed by
ken cheetham
July 2008