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Hailing from the North Coast of Scotland, bassist/composer Ali Watson journeyed to London to pursue his studies in music, returning to his homeland in 2022 to establish himself in Glasgow’s vibrant jazz scene.

Driven by a desire to craft music that served as an escape and antidote to the relentlessness and overstimulation of modern life, his debut album ‘Terrarium’ is set to release on November 26th.

Watson describes his music as ‘complex yet melodic’; drawing on Contemporary Jazz, Scottish Folk, Impressionist Classical music and his heroes in Aaron Parks, Kit Downes and Larry Grenadier to make his own distinctive imprint on modern Scottish Jazz.

Beginning most of his compositions on the upright piano in his mother’s home, Watson finds the safety and seclusion he experiences there enables him to enter an uninhibited and spontaneous state of mind, unaffected by the rest of the world.

Led by lyrical folk melodies, colourful harmony, intimate instrumental textures and gently propellant grooves, each of Watson’s nine deeply personal compositions are interpreted and performed by his quartet with maturity, personality and feeling.

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Send us your thoughts!

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Send us your thoughts!

Tigran Hamasyan is considered one of the most remarkable and distinctive jazz-meets-rock pianists/composers of his generation. A piano virtuoso with groove power, Hamasyan seamlessly fuses potent jazz improvisation and progressive rock with the rich folkloric music of his native Armenia.

In addition to awards and critical acclaim, Hamasyan has built a dedicated following worldwide, as well as praise from Herbie Hancock, Brad Mehldau and the late Chick Corea. “With startling combinations of jazz, minimalist, electronic, folk and songwriterly elements…Hamasyan and his collaborators travel musical expanses marked with heavy grooves, ethereal voices, pristine piano playing and ancient melodies. You’ll hear nothing else like this” (NPR)

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