Please can you tell us about your new album and UK album launch?

I felt like I had so many tunes bursting out of my locker that were outside the scope of any existing projects. The other group I lead, Sharp Little Bones, is a live act with a particular vibe and blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation, and which is a platform for improvised group interplay and individual expression. Electric Gumbo allowed me to explore different compositional directions and, as a music technologist, to discover ways in which the studio environment can enhance creativity. For a moment, this was going to be a solo project, but I also loved the idea of bringing in musicians to collaborate with, on a song-by-song basis. That began a process of reaching out to some of the singers and instrumentalists I’ve been playing with on the local scene. Before long, there were 19 musicians involved across the LP’s 9 tracks.

As we approached the UK album launch at Peggy’s Skylight, we initially planned to recreate the album live. However, we soon realised that we shouldn’t be sweating the small stuff; we’re a band who have been enjoying playing together in various formats for some time, so we should be entertaining the audience and having fun on stage. So, that’s exactly what we did, and to be honest, it couldn’t have gone any better. The stage was fizzing, the room was electric, and I can’t wait to take the show out on the road.

What other projects are you currently involved in?

I’m still gigging with Sharp Little Bones and about to record our next album, which will be quite different from our first release (Volumes I & II, on Ubuntu Music). Over the past two years of touring, our sound has evolved, and I’m really excited about the tunes we’re about to record. Keep an eye out for some very special guests on this upcoming record as well.

I’m also regularly performing with the Peggy’s Skylight House Band and, for something entirely different, I also lead an acoustic quartet currently performing ‘A Sketch of Chet’, a tribute to the musical legacy of Chet Baker.

Finally, I’ve just been recording bass with singer-songwriter E.R. Thorpe. Jim Baron (Crazy P) has been producing her album, which features a collection of unique, sublime, and spellbinding songs. It’s set to be released this year on Brighton’s Vicious Charm label.

What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?

When I’m coming out the other side of an intense period of writing and production, I begin to start another chapter of consuming vast amounts of music. I’ve been through another massive Miles Davis phase. I love every era of Miles, but I’ve been getting deeper into the 60s quintet stuff, trying to unravel, as well as savour, the magic.

I just discovered, by accident, a copy of Marching in the Street by Harvey Mason, and I just love every moment of it. It’s from 1975, is beautifully produced, and full of catchy, melodic tunes with grooves that are just so incredibly funky.

The last CD I got was Patrick Cornelius’ Book of Secrets – I saw him at his recent gig in Nottingham with Michael Janusch on bass. He’s such an excellent saxophonist and composer, and a great communicator.

What is your all-time favourite album and why?

Ach! It’s always a tough question! The answer changes all the time – there are so many Miles, Chet, Joni albums that could fit the bill, but I always return to Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock. It completely blew me away when I first heard it at the age of 17, and I’ve been in love with it ever since. I’ll never tire of it. The sound, like all those incredible 70s Herbie records recorded in San Francisco, is an aural delight – a perfect fusion of well-crafted compositions, super-funky grooves, and dynamic group interplay, complemented by wild, exploratory synth sounds and sublime studio production.

Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?

We’re incredibly fortunate to have Peggy’s Skylight in Nottingham – a great way to discover new music. As such, I’ve been enjoying Finn Carter’s new LP, Catharsis in Mourning, as well as ARTEMIS’s ABORESQUE. From Notts, there’s a wealth of incredibly diverse talent. Lucas Walters is a talented young pianist and composer with a bright future. And I’m beyond thrilled that rapper Jah Digga will feature on Claude Money’s upcoming remix of Electric Gumbo’s ‘Downfall’.

For more information visit simonpaterson.com