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Jazz trio meets string quartet and clarinet to steer an adventurous course around jazz, rock, funk and electronica, debuting three new commissioned works from local composers alongside some of the McFall’s favourites.

Part of the 2018 concert series 'At Home in a Foreign Land': This year, Mr McFall’s Chamber centre their programming round the theme of migration, exile and displacement.

THE LINE UP

Featuring the Spanish clarinettist Maximiliano Martín, principal clarinet with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

Jazz trio (keyboards, bass and drums) alongside clarinet, string quartet and percussion: Cyril Garac and Robert McFall, violins; Brian Schiele, viola; Su-a Lee, cello; Paul Harrison, piano; Rick Standley, bass; Stuart Brown, drums; Iain Sandilands, percussion.

THE MUSIC

Featuring three new works, commissioned with funding from the PRS Foundation:

‘Born in Dirt an’ Din’ by pianist, Paul Harrison. Harrison has described this as “written as a soundtrack for an imaginary silent film about the Clyde shipyards, combining the string ensemble with krautrock and electronica influences”.

Funk bandleader Mike Kearney’s "The Phoenix" depicts the glorious, fiery death of one state of mind and rising anew - a unique take on jazz harmony, the ‘Funk Groove’ and the co-dependence of dissonance and consonance.

‘Red Blue Balance’ by Vivian Barty-Taylor. This is an exploration of rhythms derived from the golden ratio and pure interval tunings.

The programme also includes music by Tim Garland, Martin Kershaw, Frank Zappa and Raymond Scott.

Photo by Douglas Robertson

Mr McFall’s Chamber have been acquiring a formidable and deserved reputation for adventurous programming…and for razor-sharp performance 

(Music Web International)

Mr McFall's Chamber: Red Blue Balance