Laura Macdonald Quartet at Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival

Laura Macdonald Quartet
Caol Ila Islay Jazz Festival
Islay, Scotland
September 12, 2026

Ayrshire-born and Berklee-educated saxophonist, composer and educator Laura Macdonald has been a central figure in Scottish jazz for a quarter century. She first performed at the Islay festival in 2000, has released four albums and was named Best Scottish Jazz Performer in 2021. In 2022, she became the first female saxophone lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and later stepped into the role of Head of Jazz in 2026.

Macdonald was commissioned by Creative Scotland to compose a suite of new music for an album and tour in 2026. After a year traveling through the islands that shape Scotland's identity, she created "Islands," a suite of seven tunes inspired not by specific places but by her encounters with island nature, wildlife and climate. This concert marked the first public performance of the music, and Macdonald, her alto sax and her band—Peter Johnstone on piano, Chris Quinn  on double bass and Roan Anderson on drums—rose fully to the moment.

The opening piece, "Time," moved steadily in 7/4 with a melody inspired by birdsong; interval jumps and irregular meter underpinned by Anderson's pin-point drum work. Johnstone eased into his first solo before Quinn delivered the first of several standout contributions. His huge tone and imaginative phrasing proved to be the revelation of the night.

"Sea Mea" swung briskly over an engaging harmonic progression with a short pedal section that nudged the next soloist forward. "The View" offered a reflective, spacious mood, with arco bass and padded drum beaters adding intrigue beneath the piano's opening and stately melody. Johnstone shone here, and Macdonald's majestic solo brought the tune to a close to audible delight from both audience and band.

The Latin-tinged "Drifting" featured sharp hi-hat and rim-shot precision from Anderson and a lilting, expressive solo from Macdonald. Quinn again stole the spotlight, his bass notes ringing with force and melodic invention, finding the path not of least resistance but of maximum impact, like a skier eschewing the direct line and performing outrageous off-line turns before arriving at the bottom on time and in one piece. 

"Flying On High," inspired by birds in flight, began with a groove before accelerating into a hard-swinging section. Macdonald's solo showed her sound at its best—smooth and expressive with a bit of edge and just enough surprise. Anderson's solo over backing stabs brought the tune to a lively finish. With the sixth movement, "Up And Out," omitted due to time pressure, the set closed with "Flea," Macdonald's tribute to Scotland's fearsome biting midges. A funky feel and snappy drumming set up her solo, full of rapid-fire double density notes, the same pitch fingered in different ways in quick succession. Johnstone echoed the idea in his piano solo, a technically demanding feat. The show ended to an enthusiastic response from the capacity crowd.

This music will be toured and recorded for an album. "Islands" is Macdonald's most significant work in years and will surely elevate her profile, especially alongside her new role at the conservatoire. Hearing this premiere in an island setting as summer slipped into autumn, surrounded by bottles of fine malt whisky, made for an affecting and memorable experience.