RCS Jazz graduate Fergus ends the year on a high note with best album win

Published: 05/12/2019

He’s the award-winning pianist who has been described as one Scotland’s most exciting jazz artists.

And now, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate Fergus McCreadie has added another accolade to his name.

Fergus won Jazz Album of the Year for his debut Turas, recorded by the Fergus McCreadie Trio, at this week’s 2019 Parliamentary Jazz Awards in London. It follows his success at this year’s Scottish Jazz Awards, where Turas also scooped Best Album.

Labelled ”˜the most exciting new talent to emerge from Scotland in a decade’ by Jazz Scotland, Fergus who graduated in 2018 features in the latest issue of the Royal Conservatoire’s Review magazine, where he talks about life after his studies and on the road. The trio embarked on a string of tour dates this year, taking them from Glasgow to Gothenburg, as well as a performance at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club in London.

“It’s been a good year, really hectic and busy,” says Fergus. “I’ve been gigging a lot with various projects and that’s inspiring. Playing a run of consecutive gigs with a band teaches you a lot, musically and about yourself.”

Fergus studied under Paul Harrison and Tom Gibbs at the Royal Conservatoire while benefiting from the expertise across the Jazz department’s teaching faculty. At every turn, he was given the opportunity to perform.

“I think RCS equips you with great teachers and great classes. Perhaps one of the main selling points is the fact that you’re encouraged to do everything. “