Kim Cypher Talks New Album, Songwriting And More

British jazz saxophonist, vocalist, composer and band leader Kim Cypher will release her new album ‘Catching Moments’ on 4th October 2024. As she has released her new single ‘Birdie In The Grass’, we felt that now would be a good time for a chat:

When did you begin songwriting?

I have memories from as far back as age 7 or 8 sitting at the family piano working out melodies and singing along. I think the first ‘proper’ song I wrote was as a teenager. I often still sing that song at home now and I have considered actually recording it one day! My professional songwriting kicked in around 2015 as I prepared to release my debut album ‘Make Believe’ in 2016. Since then, I am writing all the time, constantly recording melodies or lyrics into my phone, depending on what inspires me. I have literally hundreds of starting points for my new compositions…I just need more time to bring them all to life!

What is your earliest musical memory?

There was always music playing at home. My dad loved big band music and jazz. He used to turn the volume up nice and loud and stand in the lounge pretending to conduct the band. So, I was absorbing all kinds of music from an early age. One musical memory that makes me smile is the day I received my hire clarinet at primary school. I was handed the case and was told I would be shown how to put the instrument together at my lesson later in the week. I couldn’t wait so I stopped on the way home from school in the churchyard (of all places), found a bench and took all the pieces out. I worked out how to put it together, fiddled around with the reed and managed to get some sound out of it. I was so excited and I remember just playing it and playing it in the churchyard. It probably sounded horrific, but I was so excited and I absolutely loved it.

Your new upcoming album ‘Catching Moments’ is released on 4th October 2024. How did you want to approach making the album?

This album has been an unplanned labour of love. I was writing and recording some music back in 2020 for various projects, one of which was a charity project I set up called ‘For Mum’. I had a gig at the wonderful Pizza Express in Soho on what was the 20th anniversary of losing my mum so, I decided to turn the gig into a tribute gig, raising money for The brain Tumour Charity. I composed a song called ‘All For You’ and launched it at the gig. The whole project was a huge success and raised £3,000 for the charity. A few days after the gig, the country was plunged into lockdown.

The next few years I continued to release the music I had already recorded and I also found myself composing new music quite prolifically. There were so many emotions flying around, inspiring me. It was a challenging time for the world and for me personally. Myself and my husband (professional drummer) had lost all our performing work and we found it increasingly difficult to retain our identity as musicians. Suddenly, I felt an overwhelming need to celebrate people who work in The Arts and so I embarked on a vast project called ‘Brighter Tomorrow’ paying tribute to fellow creatives. The album ‘Catching Moments’ has come about out of that project and is a collection of tracks created by catching special moments in life. The album features music composed back in 2020 together with compositions from the past few years. I brought in a selection of special guest performers to record with me to continue paying tribute to The Arts. So, it’s been four years in the making and covers a LOT of ground!

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

I have produced all three of my albums as I always know exactly what I want from the music and musicians (plus, I am a bit of a control freak!) The album was mostly recorded in a local studio in Swindon – JJLV Audio Production with my trusted sound engineer Juanjo Lopez Vidal. I have been working with Juanjo for many years and he always knows exactly what I want from each recording. He is a master of his craft. There have been many recording sessions over the four years with different personnel. Some musicians recorded their parts remotely and there is also a live track recorded at London’s 606 Club with Liane Carroll –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAzE7U5Unq0 

Who were the musicians who were on the album with you?

I have some special guests on the album who are musicians I greatly respect and admire, together with an all-star lineup of some of the most highly respected jazz musicians in the UK:

Liane Carroll on piano and vocals, Ray Gelato on tenor saxophone and vocals, Antonio Forcione on guitar, Ashley Slater on trombone, vocals and brass PLUS George Cooper, Tom Berge, Anders Olinder on piano and organ, Chris Cobbson on guitar, Jonny Bruce and Alan Bateman on trumpet, Ian Bateman on trombone, Raph Mizraki on bass, Karl Vanden Bossche on percussion and my husband Mike Cypher on drums.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

My sole aim as a creative musician is to connect with and reach the hearts of others through my music. I am so grateful to all who support me and I never take that support for granted. I continue to create and perform my music for others. Some of my proudest moments have been when my music is played at personal events such as funerals and weddings. For me, there is no greater satisfaction than having touched somebody with your music.

The wonderful thing about music is that it never dies so the music will carry on long after I have left the stage. My legacy in music continues to grow.

One of the tracks is the new single ‘Birdie In The Grass’. What is the story/inspiration behind the track?

This track is inspired by appreciating the smaller things in life, something the pandemic really brought home to me. I was standing at the window one day during lockdown watching a tiny baby bird playing the grass, flapping its wings and just loving life. Before I knew it, I was singing a cheeky melody which evolved into a light-hearted Bossa-Nova. So, the title of the track and the music is literally the scene I was observing…another special moment in life caught in the music!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I have a lot of saxophones and gear so I could go on for a while. But my two absolute favourites are my Andy Sheppard Autograph Series tenor saxophone. This sax just gets better and better with age. I play this with a hand-made Dave Guardala King mouthpiece and I would not swap either of those for ANYTHING! They allow me to be exactly the player I want to be.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

My hometown is Cheltenham, on the edge of The Cotswolds. I would describe it as:

Historic, Elegant, Sophisticated, Buzzing, Cool and Vibrant. Hey, ho, I know that’s six words but it is all of those things and it is where a lot of our family is based. Plus, it’s very well placed to travel to all parts of the country for gigs.

How do you look after your voice?

I sing every day. I literally can’t stop myself and I start singing from the moment I wake up. I think my voice stays strong from continued use. Other than that, I try to warm up before I perform, although that is not always as easy as it sounds. I do sing on car journeys to gigs so that my voice is ready by the time I get on stage. Between gigs I like to steam regularly and rest my voice when I can.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Hmmmm, I’m not a big novel reader. I do read every day but not really novels. I think writing the music for ‘Alice in Wonderland’ might be quite fun though as I love anything make-believe and I think it would allow for a lot of creativity and fun. Having said that, if an opportunity like that came along, I’d be happy to write for anything.

Who created/designed the album artwork?

My album artwork is not yet finalized but it is going to be a photograph by the incredible award-winning photographer Monika Jakubowska. The photograph was inspired by an iconic photo of an absolute saxophone legend, the late great Michael Brecker.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I was lucky enough to study with incredible saxophonists Andy Sheppard and Pee Wee Ellis. Both have inspired and influenced my playing hugely. Another massive inspiration was Barbara Thompson MBE. She had such a positive influence on my life and my playing. I will be forever grateful to her for showing me the possibility of becoming a professional saxophonist, composer and band leader. I had the honour of performing for her a few years ago and I also performed the grand finale in the Barbara Thompson Memorial Concert at Union Chapel in London last year, a definite life highlight for me.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?

Some imminent key tour dates are:

Sat 1st June – Highworth Jazz Festival

Sun 9th June – Colchester Arts

Sun 16th June – Ronnie Scott’s – album preview / Father’s Day celebration – *LAST FEW TICKETS REMAINING

 

Some further tour dates booked are:

 

Sat 3rd August – Stompin’ on the Quomps Festival

Fri 16th August – Jazz Jurassica Lyme Regis

Mon 2nd September – Kenilworth Jazz

Tues 1st October – Olney Jazz

Thurs 3rd October – Album Launch at Dunkerton’s Jazz Sessions Cheltenham with special guests to be announced!

Sat 5th October – Shrivenham Jazz

Mon 11th November – Pizza Express Live Soho

Thurs 21st November – Corn Exchange Ross on Wye

Fri 6th December – Corn Exchange Witney

Sat 14th December – The Porch House Thornbury

Sat 21st December – Tetbury Goods Shed

 

Plus, regular local gigs including Dunkerton’s Jazz Sessions in our hometown of Cheltenham on the first Thursday every month.

 

Was it a difficult album to write?

It’s been a long album in the making, and an enjoyable album to write. It’s an album that has evolved over time, catching those special moments along the way. So, the whole experience has been very relaxed and going with the flow.

What makes Kim Cypher happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happiness for me is about focussing on positivity, taking chances and appreciating what really matters. Life is too short to waste time on things that make you unhappy. I am at my happiest when I am creating. I am also happiest when I am surrounded by those I love – my husband, my family, my friends and my two beautiful bunnies Bertie and Molly (there may be an album track reflecting this). I also laugh a LOT as my husband and I share the same weird sense of humour. So, we laugh all the time and that is what keeps us happy.

As for making me unhappy, quite simply when people are unkind to others. I wish there was more kindness, compassion and acceptance in the world.