Archipelago
Archipelago are a critically acclaimed genre fusing trio of adventurous musicians led by Faye MacCalman (saxophone/ clarinet / voice / synth) and completed by John Pope (bass, vocals) and Christian Alderson (drums/percussion). Archipelago’s uncompromising ability to fit in one genre is a raw, fully charged musical experience. Their new album ‘Echoes To The Sky’ released on the New Jazz and Improvised Music Records label in June 2021 received 4 **** and Editor’s Choice in Jazzwise has been described as ‘original, evocative and at times, haunting music’ by Kevin Le Gendre on BBC Radio 3.
Photo (c) Victoria Wai
Order the new album from Bandcamp here:
Archipelago formed out of the North East of England’s burgeoning new music scene. They first played together in 2016 in ‘mutant funeral jazz big band’ The Midnight Doctors, brainchild of guitarist, composer and producer Phil Begg. While recording musicians separately, Phil recognised the potential of Faye, John and Christian as a powerful unit, and here began Archipelago.
With influences stretching from Joni Mitchell, to Don Cherry, their songs change rapidly from one to the next in ‘a shape shifting sound’ (Kevin Le Gendre), moving between instruments and electronic effects that create the illusion of an orchestra before peeling back to their raw trio form.
Archipelago’s activist stance saw them creating ‘BETWEEN WAVES’ in 2018 with the support of HMUK; a residency for Archipelago to make new music with female-identifying artists. Archipelago have played at Latitude Festival, TUSK Festival, London Jazz Festival and Manchester Jazz Festival, and their music has featured on BBC6 Music’s Freakzone/ the Tom Robinson show, Corey Mwamba’s Freeness on Radio 3, Jez Nelson’s ‘Somethin’ Else’ show on Jazz FM, Worldwide FM and NTS radio.