As a follow-up to two standout releases last year for Matthew Halsell’s Gondwana Records, in Astral Traveling and Cloud 10, the saxophonist and flautist Chip Wickham has returned with a brilliant new EP for the Manchester-based label, titled Love & Life.

Featuring four superb tracks, this record has a strong meditative spiritual jazz vibe with elements of soul-jazz and post-bop grooves that are centered around Chip’s remarkable flute playing, that is reminiscent at times of the late great Yusef Lateef and his more Eastern-influenced recordings. 

Backing Wickham on the session is trumpeter Eoin Grace, pianist Phil Wilkinson, vibraphonist Ton Risco, bassist Simon Houghton, and drummer Jon Scott, with a special guest appearance and solo from trumpeter Malcolm Strachan on “Slow Down Look Around”.

Great from start to finish, Love & Life is another impressive release from one of today’s most preeminent jazz artists. Definitely one of the best EPs of 2023!

Chip Wickham — ‘Love & Life’
(Gondwana Records)

1. Space Walk
2. Love & Life
3. Seven Worlds
4. Slow Down Look Around

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• Jazz
• Spiritual Jazz