Laura Macdonald: Islands

For her latest project, saxophonist Laura Macdonald—one of the defining voices in Scottish jazz—has turned her focus to Islay. Tonight’s performance is the world premiere of a brand-new suite of music, written to capture the distinct character of the Scottish Islands. Known for her award-winning writing, Laura’s music is built on swing, invention, and instinctively catchy melodies. To bring this new work to life, she’s joined by three of the brightest young talents on the Scottish scene: Roan Anderson (drums), Pete Johnston (piano), and Chris Quinn (bass). Together, they form a powerhouse rhythm section that brings a fresh, vital energy to her compositions. The setting is just as notable as the music. The quartet will perform in the impressive large hall at Caol Ila Distillery for the festival’s opening night. Because the evening also coincides with the launch of Caol Ila’s latest festival bottling, it’s shaping up to be a pretty definitive pairing of brilliant jazz and single malt.