Chip Wickham – Flautist, Saxophonist and Composer

Chip Wickham is a British flautist, saxophonist and composer whose work connects spiritual jazz with groove, electronic music and different strands of contemporary British music.

Born in Brighton, he developed a significant part of his musical career in Manchester, where he worked with musicians and projects including Nightmares on Wax, The New Mastersounds, Nat Birchall and Matthew Halsall. His relationship with Halsall and the wider Manchester spiritual jazz scene became an important influence on the evolution of his musical language.

After later settling in Madrid and also living in Doha, Wickham developed a body of work as a bandleader in which modal jazz, spiritual music, club influences and a meticulous approach to production converge. His albums include La Sombra, Shamal Wind and Blue to Red.

As both a composer and performer, the flute occupies a central place in an aesthetic built around direct melodies, improvisation, rhythmic intensity and moments of contemplation.