Matthew Kilner Quintet – Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen

Matthew Kilner is a local saxophonist, who has attended Aberdeen Jazz Festival since he was fourteen.  In this concert he is joined by four other talented musicians to produce a wonderful evening for a very full Cowdray Hall.  This is a fantastic setting for a jazz concert with its impressive pipe organ taking up the wall behind the stage.

Paul Harrison plays piano and keyboard, Graeme Stephen on electric guitar, Alyn Cosker on drums and Ali Watson on double bass.  The five play together marvellously, all watching and listening to each other as they work together to create some magical music.  We are taken on a journey through quiet solos, into dancing duets and gathering into crashing crescendos with the might of all five instruments combining.

Once Kilner introduces his fellow musicians he talks us through the songs.  We start with Haar, a local weather feature we are all familiar with.  A thick fog which comes in from the sea and engulfs all it covers. 

Next is a set of three songs inspired by losing his Grandad, which made him appreciate friends and family more.  These songs were recorded in January and the EP is due out in May and this is the first time they are played live in public.  The last composition is Hygge, a Norwegian word meaning cosy and safe, which is just how the piece makes you feel.

The next song was written by Kilner when he came back to Aberdeen, for some DJ Saxophone gigs, from his new home in Glasgow.  Walking down Union Street, having been distanced from his home town he finally saw what outsiders meant about our local stonework being rather grey and wrote a piece called Granite to show the transition from the stone’s glitter in the sunshine to its gloomier appearance “when its pishing doon!”

Lastly we come to the title track of Kilner’s album The Space In Between, another fantastic piece of music which takes us on a journey.  The encore is a duet of saxophone and guitar, although its title is not announced.  

Throughout the full ninety minute set the musicians coordinate beautifully, all very respectful of each other.  Kilner leaves the stage when he is not playing, but otherwise is front and centre leading the group.  Each individual has a chance of a solo to show off their extraordinary talents.  At some points the instruments distract us from the music: sometimes Paul’s sheet music is raised, sometimes he lays it down on top of the piano; the double bass sometimes has the bow across its strings, other times its Ali’s fingers doing all the work; and, the drums too are sometimes played with the usual sticks, sometimes with brushes and other times with Alyn’s fingers.  All mesmerising and fascinating, the combination is a most marvellous experience.

Reviewed on 21 March 2026 | Image: Maria Robertson