Laura Macdonald and David Berkman set for EFG LJF launch and Scottish tour
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Scottish Saxophonist Laura Macdonald and New York pianist David Berkman will launch their new album, Duets, at EFG London Jazz Festival on Saturday, 15 November, when they open for Dee Dee Bridgwater at Queen Elizabeth Hall, before playing a three concert tour of Scotland.
The two musicians, who have worked together in various line-ups since appearing in a band Macdonald formed for an Edinburgh Jazz Festival concert a few years ago, first played as a duo when they were asked to fill an hour’s slot in a festival programme at five minutes’ notice. They had more preparation this time and exchanged emails with ideas and suggestions until they settled on a selection of romantic standards, including ‘It Could Happen to You’ and ‘My Romance’.
The album was recorded, with trumpeter Ryan Quigley producing, at Gorbals Sound in Glasgow and the duo will return to Glasgow to play at City Halls on Friday 21 November following concerts at the Tolbooth, Stirling on Wednesday 19 November and the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen on Thursday 20 November.
Duets follows Macdonald’s two albums for Spartacus Records (Laura and Awakenings) and Open Book from the quartet that she co-leads with Swedish drummer Martina Algren. Cleveland-born Berkman’s most recent recording is the New Straight Ahead, released this summer on Michael Janisch’s Whirlwind label with the New York Standards Quartet, which also features drummer Gene Jackson, saxophonist Tim Armacost, and double bassist Daiki Yasukagawa.
– Rob Adams
For more info go to www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk