Song of the Day: Chip Wickham - Sais (Egypt)

Saxophonist and flautist Chip Wickham shared a new single Sais (Egypt), cover of James Mtume’s classic. Full-length album out in 2022 via Gondwana Records.

Chip Wickham has signed to the Gondwana Records label and we’ll be releasing his debut album on the label next year. He is an original member of the Gondwana Orchestra, he played on Matthew Halsall’s debut album Sending My Love and has regularly played with the Orchestra while also leading his own excellent band.

His new single Sais (Egypt), is an uplifting spiritual-jazz piece and a cover of James Mtume’s classic, recorded and released notably by Sonny Rollins and then by Lonnie Liston Smith on his iconic Cosmic Funk album. Mtume (pronounced em-tu-may) was a funk and soul group that rose to prominence during the early 1980s and had several R&B hits during its career. Its founder, former jazz percussionist James Mtume, moved into urban contemporary and funk in the late 70s and became one of the more successful producers and performers in both styles during the 80s. The son of the great jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath, Mtume was a conga player and percussionist who recorded and toured with Miles Davis and was featured on albums by the Heath Brothers.

Listen to Chip Wickham new single Sais (Egypt), from his forthcoming new album:

Born and raised in Brighton, UK, Wickham moved to Manchester to attend college. He soon moved into music going on to perform and record with a formidable and diverse list of artists from his Manchester base including Nightmares on Wax and Andy Votel as well as regular funk excursions with The New Mastersounds. However it was upon his meeting of Mancunian trumpeter/bandleader of Gondwana Orchestra, Matthew Halsall, and other influential players connected to the Manchester’s spiritual jazz circuit such as Nat Birchall that Wickham’s musical course was re-routed for good.

With his group (that will feature British jazz pillar, Greg Foat on keys), Wickham will be embarking on a tour across the UK and Europe this April with headline dates at London’s Ronnie Scott’s and Paris’s La Petite Halle. Alongside playing with Dwight Tribble, Allysha Joy (30/70), The Sorcerers, Scrimshire and Joe Tatton (The New Mastersounds), Chip's previous and recent live endeavours saw him perform at the mainstage of Love Supreme last year and he continues to tour the world with Halsall and The Gondwana Orchestra.

Watch below Chip Wickham new single Sais (Egypt), from his forthcoming new album: