Brighton Jazz Festival - Chip Wickham + Sultan Stevenson

Saxophonist, flautist and composer Chip Wickham casts a formidable shadow across the UK jazz landscape. Originally from Brighton, Chip Wickham first came to prominence in the UK breakbeat scene playing with the likes of Nightmares On Wax and Graham Massey. But at heart Chip has always been a jazz musician (he played on Matthew Halsall’s debut album 'Sending My Love' in 2008 beginning a relationship with Gondwana Records that now spans 17 years) and now dividing his time between the UK, Spain and the Middle-East, he has made a name for himself with a series of beautifully crafted solo albums that draw equally on hard swinging spiritual jazz, the classic sounds of 60s British jazz and the more contemporary sounds of artists such as Jazzanova, The Cinematic Orchestra, and Nicola Conte.His forthcoming release 'The Eternal Now’ (Gondwana Records, September 5) is Chip’s most progressive recording to date and represents a heartfelt ode to submitting oneself to the practice of creating art, and the freedom that’s derived from letting go. Speaking on his journey to bringing it into the world, Chip explains “The Eternal Now is a creative place where time has no purpose. Writing this album has been a deliberate journey of exploration and drive into the furthest reaches of creativity. An attempt to push myself artistically into new spaces using new colours and new energy”.Co-produced by Matthew Halsall, 'The Eternal Now' features two mainstays of the Manchester scene, legendary drummer Luke Flowers of The Cinematic Orchestra and well-loved bass-player Sneaky who played on Mr Scruff’s classic Keep it Unreal. Largely flute-led it’s his most rhythm heavy offering to date taking the listener on an expansive journey that touches on the influences of Lonnie Liston Smith, Sven Wunder, David Axelrod and even library music as Chip pushes his sound into exciting new spaces without ever losing the soulful groove and heartfelt melodies that make his music so loved.

8PM - SULTAN STEVENSON

“His way of placing silences and making a simple four-note lick grow into something

significant showed an incipient master at work.” – The Telegraph

Pianist Sultan Stevenson is one of the fastest emerging young artists on the London jazz

scene and soon to be Europe. Sultan is the winner of The UK Parliamentary Award for “Best Newcomer 2023”. To follow up, Sultan has been nominated for a Jazz FM Award 2025 in the category of Breakthrough Act of the Year.

As a teenager he has benefitted from the education of the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy and Tomorrow’s Warriors, following that, he graduated from The Guildhall School of Music in 2023.

However, he emerged on the scene in 202, with a rapidly developing artistic voice. He started playing his own music alongside regular bandmates Jacob Gryn and Joel Waters. Jazz Re:freshed, The Jazz Cafe, The Vortex and The EFG London Jazz Festival are just some of the numerous places in which Sultan has wowed audiences. Sultan cites McCoy Tyner, Kenny Kirkland, Geri Allen and Ahmad Jamal as some of his biggest inspirations.

2023 saw the release of his debut album, Faithful One. He performed at The Love Supreme Festival and later that year he toured Ireland, culminating with an appearance at The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

2024 saw an awakening for the Sultan outside the UK. He performed in Texas at the famous SXSW Festival and more importantly performed a showcase at Jazzahead. His appearance in Bremen led to other European engagements at Jazz Jantar in Gdansk, Jamboree in Barcelona, Bologna Jazz Festival, Bird’s Eye in Basel, Riv38 in Paris and a prestigious gig at Duc des Lombards.

Sultan will release his 2nd album, El Roi, in March 2025 on Edition Records. The launch concert will be held in the prestigious Purcell Room of the South Bank Centre. Notable engagements on his album tour include Jazz Dock in Prague, King Georg in Cologne, Jassmine in Warsaw and Unterfahrt in Munich.

Sultan Stevenson is, without doubt, what a jazz superstar looks like in the making!

Youtube Links

Summer Was Our Holy Place' - Sultan Stevenson - Whirlwind Sessions

'Faithful One' - Live Studio Recording - Sultan Stevenson - Whirlwind Sessions

Host or Publisher Brighton Jazz Festival