Profiles
Kevin Flanagan Kevin comes from Lowell, Mass., USA. His current project is the collaboration of poets and musicians involvling both composition and improvisation with his ensemble, the Riprap Collective . He was part of Antares, an improvisatory jazz group that toured New England and the UK in the mid-70's to early 80's. During this period he was also involved in blues and popular music, both performing and recording. He settled in the UK in the mid-80's, and worked on the London jazz and pop scene, playing and recording with Ben E. King, B.B.King, and members of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, Portishead, Paul Weller, and others, as well as various West African groups around London. By the late 80's, he was primarily involved with jazz, playing with his own group and the Tommy Chase Quartet around the festivals of the UK and Europe, such as Glastonbury, Brecon, Edinburgh, Soho, Glasgow, and Brighton in this country; and festivals in Milan, Paris, The North Sea Festival, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and others. A graduate of Goldsmiths University, with a post graduate degree in composition from ARU (where he lectures). He studied composition at the University of Sussex with Martin Butler,and has had pieces commissioned and performed by orchestras in London and Cambridge. Kevin's compositions: Kevin's Amp site
This first CD from the Riprap quartet features compositions by the band setting the works of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gary Snyder. The group was formed 5 years by musicians who were interested in exploring possible combinations of the Beat poets and jazz. They have been active in working out ways of combining music, text and improvisation. This has now become a collective of musicians and poets, collaborating with writers such as Ruth Padel, Grevel Lindop, Chuck Perkins, and Malcolm Guite, among others. They have been performing in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall for National Poetry Day, TS Eliot Festival, John Clare Festival, West Road Concert Hall, Cambridge, Essex University, Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford Civic Theatre, Boxford Jazz Club, Brighton Jazz Club, and the Peterbourgh Jazz Club BBC World Service.
"Haunting and atmospheric settings of Gary Snyder's evocative poetry from sax player/composer Kevin Flanagan's new band. Acoustic jazz of the highest order where the musicians solo beautifully and sit in grooves like they've found a new place to live." Sue Edwards, Bookings manager, Royal Festival Hall.
"Featuring the increasingly in-demand pianist David Gordon, Kevin Flanagan's current project pits the words of beat poet Gary Snyder against thoughtfully-crafted ensemble playing of the highest order.... a must see" Tim Haillay, Chairman, Brighton Jazz Club
"Having listened to the CD, I was full of hope and anticipation that these guys could deliver live what they had managed to recreate in the studio. I am have to say the concert was absolutely amazing, the quality of the musicianship and the reading of Snyder's poetry created a wonderful atmosphere. One of the best groups on the circuit, watch this space." Pasco-Q Kevlin,Theatre Manager, Lakeside Theatre, University of Essex.