Collection: Alabaster DePlume
Angus Fairbairn, performing as Alabaster DePlume, represents contemporary jazz's most intimate and unconventional voice. A self-taught saxophonist from Manchester who only picked up the instrument in 2007, he blends breathy, whisper-quiet saxophone with spoken word poetry and spiritual jazz atmospherics. His 2022 breakthrough Gold – Go Forward in the Courage of Your Love, recorded at London's Total Refreshment Centre with rotating casts of musicians given minimal rehearsal time, earned widespread acclaim for its balance of discomfort and comfort, vulnerability and political conviction.
DePlume's approach defies categorisation, drawing equally from jazz improvisation, folk storytelling, and activist philosophy. His monthly Peach events at Total Refreshment Centre create spontaneous collaborations with UK jazz scene figures, whilst releases on International Anthem Recording Co. showcase his distinctive style: simple circular melodies, low-volume flourishes, and mantric vocals addressing themes of dignity, grief, and collective care. Recent albums Come with Fierce Grace (2023) and A Blade Because a Blade Is Whole (2025) continue his exploration of music as communal healing.
