It was striking hearing Fergus McCreadie in a hardcore jazz club setting among an audience of people who hear the best jazz musicians regularly, and who know what's what far better than most. This was like 2018 hearing saxist Matt Carmichael's band descend from Scotland to grab London jazzland by the short and curlies. I couldn't really see the pianist on the left hand side of the tiny stage from where I was standing at the back and couldn't see his hands at all. But I could certainly hear what he could do on the club's superb Steinway. Fergus looked like Jesus that night and sounded like Keith. Jeez you can't really sound like Jarrett unless you are potentially world class as a player by the way. The new artist photos feature a less biblical look. Turas that year with McCreadie, David Bowden on double bass and Stephen Henderson on drums had a sense of flow that was very mature and was probably the best jazz by any Scot I'd heard since oh hearing Tommy Smith's part on Mira back in 2014. On Cairn Fergus does go full tilt again into his material. The tunes are more the trio's than ever. And even better than on Turas, a sense of lilting very Scottish ecstasy envelops the totality of the listening experience. The band is the same, still Bowden and Henderson on the case, and so suddenly the trio is completely a thing. A joy. Disciples, you'll have even more company. SG. On Edition. Out today
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