In recent years, the Scottish jazz scene has become one of the most exciting in the UK. One critic suggested it was a jazz hotbed approaching New York proportions. Many of the musicians are grouped around the Conservatoire in Glasgow, and play on a regular basis around the many bars and clubs in the city.
Some of the first wave included Fergus McCreadie, Graham Costello, Joe Williamson, David Bowden , Georgia Cecile all of whom now host their own concerts as part of the Festival
Here’s a new list of intriguing new faces that are emerging on the scene, bringing fresh visions and expanding the boundaries of the music in the process. Here are nine to watch out for during Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival 2022:
Matt Carmicahel
A recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, saxophonist Matt Carmichael is making waves on the jazz scene. Jazzwise named him “One to Watch” and Tommy Smith describes him as “world class”. He has just signed for the prestigious jazz label: Edition Records. Matt started playing the saxophone aged 11 and grew up playing in bands such as the East Dumbartonshire Schools Jazz Orchestra, NYJOS, TSYJO, explaining “jazz was introduced to me by my teacher at the time, baritone saxophonist Allon Beauvoison”. He will play in a few bands this “all new collaborations that haven’t happened before so I don’t know what to expect yet, that’s the exciting part!”
Concert: 6pm Thursday 21 July at the Jazz Bar
See Matt on YouTubeRichard Glassby
Currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, drummer Richard recently won their Prize for Composition. He says he started playing jazz whilst at University in Aberdeen as it was the only society I could play drums in. His debut album 'Eclipse' won critical acclaim and for his EJBF gig he will deliver a big intense sound inspired by Coltrane’s classic quartet with a contemporary influence. His biggest drumming influence in Elvin Jones.
Concert: 9pm Friday 15 July at The Jazz Bar
See Richard on YouTube
Matthew Kilner
An Aberdonian, and a recent graduate from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Matthew is an active musician performing regularly with a variety of ensembles. He started to play jazz in a school band and the first albums he heard were ‘Kind of Blue’ and ‘My Favourite Things’. The Festival will present “the first gig with my new band and the new music that I've written feels like the most personal account of my musical identity so far”.
Concert: 8.30pm Tuesday 19 July at Piccolo
See Matthew on YouTubeKitti
Winner of Best Vocalist at The Scottish Jazz Awards 2020 and Best Female Breakthrough Artist at The Scottish Music Awards; 𝐤𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢 has established herself as “one to watch”. Coming from a musical family her aunt is a music teacher and her father plays mandolin and guitar, but she credits her grandmother for introducing her to Louis Prima, Ella Fitzgerald and all the jazz classics. Her ideal singer would be a blend of Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. Of her EJBF 22 show she says” you can expect a great mix of jazz, soul and funk. My songs are often very relatable in their lyrics, chatting about my failure to find love and my frustrations with the world. If you’re in the mood to have a party and also be taken on an emotional roller coaster then make sure to be there!”
Concert: 8.30pm Thursday 21 July at Assembly Roxy
See Kitti on YouTube
Anouska Nanguy
Trombonist, Noushy is a jazz trombonist, vocalist, composer and arranger from Glasgow. Graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a BA Hons in Jazz in 2021, she is an in-demand session musician, leader of the Noushy Quartet, co-leader of the hip hop-jazz collective, Astrosnax, and performer with corto.alto, Kobi Onyame and Joshua Elcock Big Band. In 2020 she received a Scottish Jazz Awards for Rising Star.
Concert: 6pm Sunday 17 July at The Jazz Bar
See Noushy on YouTubeConor Smith
Guitar, Pedal Steel and Double Bass player with a particular love for Jazz and old Country music. When he started to learn the guitar a friend suggested that he check out Django Reinhardt and Joe Pass and he was inspired from there. But it was after listening to Chet Atkins who found the sweet spot somewhere between Jazz, Country and Classical that Conor found his true direction. Today he works as a session musician with a variety of bands and including Rose Room. For his 2022 EJBF performance he leads a new band playing Western Swing
Concert: 6pm Saturday 16 July at Piccolo
See Conor on YouTube:
Nathan Somevi
Nathan Somevi is a young Jazz songwriter and guitarist based in Glasgow. He recently released his debut EP, ‘Can’t Be Done’, in September 2020 and was nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ for the Scottish Alternative Music Awards. He first heard jazz in church and started playing in church too saying “I wanted to be able to express myself in a deeper way. Church environment has a culture of expanding your vocabulary. 'Giving your best to god'”
Concert: 6pm Friday 22 July at the Jazz Bar
See Nathan on YouTubeJoe Williamson
The 2018 Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, guitarist Joe Williamson is a force to be reckoned with on the Scottish jazz scene. Hailed as ''a crucial contributor to the bands that define the Scottish jazz scene’s current strength'' (The Herald). For EJBF 22 he leads a brand new quartet embracing left-field modern jazz with a love for the acoustic tradition
Norman Willmore is a saxophonist who was born on to a kitchen floor in the Shetland Islands, and is now based in Glasgow. His debut album, created a big impact. ‘Alive & Well At The Muckle Roe Hall’ was recorded live in a tiny wooden public hall in the Shetland Islands surrounded by sheep, cliffs and hundreds of miles of water between us and anything else. For EJBF Norman plays a duo with acclaimed Scottish pianist David Milligan
Concert: 5pm Friday 22 July at Assembly Roxy
See Norman on YouTube
