One of Scotland's brightest musical talents proved once again why he's one of the most exciting names in contemporary jazz, as Fergus McCreadie curated a remarkable series of intimate collaborations during this year's Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.
Hosted at the atmospheric St Bride's Centre, the Fergus McCreadie Meets... series saw the acclaimed pianist step away from his celebrated trio format to perform alongside musicians who have each helped shape today's international jazz landscape. Among the standout performances were captivating duos with Norwegian trumpeter Mathias Eickand British saxophonist Xhosa Cole, each offering audiences a completely different musical journey.
The meeting between McCreadie and Mathias Eick felt like a natural pairing. Both musicians have built reputations for creating deeply melodic music infused with a sense of landscape and atmosphere. Eick, whose unmistakable trumpet sound has featured across an extensive catalogue of ECM Records releases, brought his signature lyrical tone to the performance, complementing McCreadie's folk-inspired piano beautifully. Rather than simply alternating solos, the duo created a genuine conversation, weaving together original compositions with remarkable sensitivity and leaving plenty of space for improvisation to flourish.
While Thursday's concert embraced the spacious, cinematic feel of Nordic jazz, the following evening shifted gears entirely.
Joining McCreadie was Birmingham saxophonist Xhosa Cole, winner of the 2018 BBC Young Jazz Musician competition and one of the UK's most inventive improvisers. Their performance centred on the music and spirit of jazz icon Thelonious Monk, but this was far from a straightforward tribute. Instead, the pair deconstructed Monk's compositions, teasing familiar melodies before launching into fearless improvisations that constantly surprised the audience. It was playful, adventurous and packed with musical chemistry.
The collaboration also carried an added layer of history. McCreadie and Cole have known one another since their early careers, with both emerging as leading figures in the new generation of British jazz musicians. Although they had crossed paths many times over the years, opportunities to perform together have been surprisingly rare, making this reunion all the more special.
For McCreadie, the series demonstrated the versatility that has made him one of Scotland's most celebrated jazz exports. Best known for blending Scottish folk traditions with modern jazz, he showed that his musical language is equally at home alongside European lyricism and the angular brilliance of Monk-inspired improvisation. Each collaboration revealed another side of his playing while highlighting his ability to adapt instinctively to the personalities of his musical partners.
The Fergus McCreadie Meets... concerts also underlined the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival's commitment to creating unique musical encounters rather than simply presenting touring acts. By bringing together artists from different traditions, generations and countries, the festival offered audiences performances that existed for one night only—moments of genuine spontaneity that cannot be replicated.
For anyone lucky enough to witness these concerts, it was a reminder that jazz is at its most compelling when great musicians simply listen, respond and create together. Judging by the enthusiastic response from audiences, Fergus McCreadie's collaborative series may well become one of the festival's most anticipated features in years to come.