The 2005 Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival is the eight annual event and takes place form 16-18 September. Since its commencement, the Festival has presented an uncompromising high quality artistic programme – a showcase of everything that is new and exciting in the Scottish jazz scene, with some very special international guests. The music is presented in the most unusual and atmospheric surrounds – from bird sanctuaries to distilleries.

There’s a world premiere, a strong Celtic theme; some tough contemporary jazz; a couple of classic singers; jazz meets Jewish and Balkan music; and some get-down funky music.

Keith McRae is an enthusiastic jazz fan, who has been to the Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival every year since its inception. He is also the Honorary Norwegian Consul in Aberdeen. To mark the centenary of Norwegian independence, Keith has commissioned the great Norwegian bass player, Arild Andersen, to write music for a duo with Scottish saxophone star, Tommy Smith. They will perform a concert in The Round Church, Bowmore on Saturday 17th September.

Classy singer, Tina May visits Islay for the first time. Highly musical, and with a great feel for the classic American songbook, she’ll sing her own special arrangements of many great standards. Ireland’s strongest young saxophonist Michael Buckley also makes his Islay debut.

Dancefloor sensations Groovediggaz offer the festival party-night at Ballygrant. They offer a contemporary take on funk classics from the 60s and 70s – James Brown, Bill Withers – and are fronted by Tony King on vocals. Dance music of a different kind – Balkan – mixed with Jewish klezmer fuels the rip-roaring closing concert a the Machrie, courtesy of Moishe’s Bagel.


The Celtic theme comes courtesy of award-winning trumpeter, Colin Steele and his Quintet. Having recently won Best Album of the Year awards with Jazz Review and the BBC and signed a deal with a major international record label, ACT – his music is an uplifting and joyous presentation of cool jazz and Caledonian music. Piper, saxophonist and whistler, Fraser Fifield straddles jazz and folk music even further. Bachue are a duo of pianist, Dave Milligan and harp player/vocalist, Corrina Hewat – both major figures on the Scottish folk scene.

John Rae New Jazz follow the jazz tradition. These young lions of the Scottish jazz scene play in the vein of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. Martin Kershaw pays homage to Charlie Parker, Brian Kellock Trio offer their tumultuous attack on the jazz tradition. Powerful saxophonist, Paul Towndrow and his Quartet play a late night concert at the Lochside (a welcome new venue for the Festival). Laura MacDonald’s Octet challenge the tradition with vivacious, bright music which experiments with newer forms, bigger shapes and great arching compositions.

Sheena Swanson’s tribute to Billie Holiday makes a welcome return, this year headlining her own concert. Her band will include Paul Harrison (piano), Mario Caribe (bass) and fellow-Ileach, Brian Palmer (drums).

Islay can be a magical place at all times. From September 16-18, the island has an extra dimension to its allure, and its one that sets off some extraordinary creative reactions. Listeners get a choice of music throughout the weekend. They can mix and match, creating their own odyssey of concerts and places. Decisions may be made according to the appeal of a specific musician, but they might equally be made up by scheduling of a distillery visit, a seafood lunch, a walk on a beach or a birdwatching trip.

Black Bottle is the most popular blended whisky on the island, which is hardly surprising when you consider that the blend contains all seven Islay malts. The Festival has benefited from sponsorship from Black Bottle since its first year, and has been named after the whisky for seven out of the eight editions. Fiona Alexander, Director of promoters, Assembly Direct, pointed out that “the magic of the Jazz Festivla in Islay is partly created by Black Bottle. Without their funding, we would not be able to present so much high quality jazz is such remote circumstances; and without their whisky, that extraordinary acceptance by both audiences and musicians of the sometimes basic circumstances in which we find ourselves might not seem like such an adventure, and such fun, as it does.”

Marco Di Ciacca, Market Activation Manager for Burn Stewart Distillers, owners of the Black Bottle brand says “The Jazz Festival is a great advertisement for Islay and a great advertisement for Black Bottle. The brand is really at the heart of the island, and its blend with a strong personality, big heritage and plenty of challenge. Not a bad analogy for jazz.”

Support from Argyll and the Isles Enterprise is also crucial to the success of the event. Assembly Direct also receives funding from the Scottish Arts Council towards the event.

The Festival is co-promoted by jazz specialists, Assembly Direct and local arts promoters, The Islay Arts Association. Stuart Todd, Chair of the Association, and the man who set the ball rolling in getting the Jazz Festival started, is still amazed at the way the Festival has taken off. “We must be getting something right, because many of the people who came in the first year have been back every single year since, and they’ve been joined by a growing band of people who you would have to say have almost turned the weekend into a pilgrimage. People are smitten with the combination of nature and art, and the sense of community which is central to the experience of living in Islay and which can be shared even on a weekend visit.”

For more information please contact Fiona Alexander or Elaine Craig, Assembly Direct on 0131 553 4000 or e-mail info@assemblydirect.ednet.co.uk

The Black Bottle Islay Jazz Festival programme is available at www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk