The Shieling by Fergus McCreadie

Distinctive Scottish pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie presents The Shieling, an album that marks a nuanced and subtle yet powerful shift for him and his trio. Following the huge acclaim and success of Cairn, Forest Floor (shortlisted for Mercury Prize and winning Best Album at Scottish Music Wards) and Stream, Fergus McCreadie draws on fresh inspiration from the wild, elemental beauty of North Uist in the Scottish Outer Hebrides. Recorded in a remote cottage and produced by celebrated and fellow Mercury shortlisted artist, Laura Jurd (Dinosaur), The Sheiling reflects a deeper sense of oneness and primal rawness. The trio - recording in one room with McCreadie on an upright piano - finds new ground to their sound - lyrical, untamed and alive.

Joined by trusted collaborators David Bowden (bass) and Stephen Henderson (drums), McCreadie holds on to that signature mix of Scottish folk spirit and modern jazz but lets it breathe in new ways. In just a few years, he’s become one of British jazz’s most compelling voices, praised for performances that feel raw, honest and full of heart. From the groundedness of Cairn to the earthiness of Forest Floor and the flowing lyricism of Stream, his music continues to speak to audiences far and wide and The Shieling feels like the next natural, powerful step.

In the dynamic landscape of contemporary jazz, Scottish pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie has carved a remarkable niche. Since 2021, his career has skyrocketed – shortlisted for the Mercury Prize and clinching the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) for “Forest Floor." McCreadie’s latest venture, “Stream,” continues this intriguing exploration, this time delving into the essence of water.