Composer and Band Leader: Fergus McCreadie
Three intense young men take the stage and lay down long, intricate musical nets that contain Scottish folk tunes, jazz improvisation, and evocative passages that conjure up landscapes and weather and a whole bunch of sense impressions. They play two long pieces, take a break, then come back to play two more, the first of which features a beautifully restrained drum work-out by Stephen Henderson, the second features agile manipulation of the stand-up bass by David Bowden. Overseeing affairs from his piano stool is composer Fergus McCreadie.
The band members got together in the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, under the guidance of tenor-sax legend Tommy Smith (now Professor Tommy Smith), when Fergus came down from the Highlands to develop his distinctive piano style, a sort of fusion of bagpipe reels with Keith Jarrett inspired sonic exploration. The bass and drums complemented the piano, and they have now released three albums, this year’s Forest Floor being short-listed for the Mercury Prize.
It is a very singular musical feel. The extended improvisations take off from highly recognisable folk motifs. It would be no surprise to hear the theme being stated on bagpipes. None of the pieces spend long on the melody, though. They set off on long improvised riffs, all very delicately textured, all extremely tasteful. Nothing goes skronk at any point, Stephen Henderson rarely hits anything hard, and often unhitches the intrusive snare from his snare drum so he has a high toned tom drum. David Borden’s bass is always present, but in an understated, supportive way. They create soundscapes that feel very Scottish, very hill and haar and distant ocean. It is altogether lovely.
Fergus McCreadie’s music is best experienced in a concert hall. It is immersive, it weaves around the audience, and it benefits from close attention. When McCreadie lifts his hands from the piano keys, the audience listens to the last notes fading away before breaking the spell he has cast with their applause. The trio generate that sort of attention and that sort of respect. They approach their art seriously, though not solemnly. Everyone seems to be having a good time up on the stand, there are appreciative nods when any of the trio does something unusual or exceptionally good, but these are three very accomplished musicians looking for textures and patterns, taking the melodies more or less as read, and creating a strikingly lovely bubble of sound that it is a joy to enter.
Playing as part of the 2022 EFG London Jazz Festival, celebrating its thirtieth birthday this year, The Fergus McCreadie Trio are in good company.
Reviewed on 13 November 2022
