Brian Molley (Saxophones) Tom Gibbs (Piano) David Bowden (Double Bass); Stephen Henderson (Drums)
Internationally acclaimed Scottish group Brian Molley Quartet release their latest album, Tùs/Origin on 20th March 2026.
From the folk traditions of the Outer Hebrides to a Louisiana gospel stomp via fugue, jig and hoedown in a through-composed suite, Tùs/Origin follows a journey exploring why a Scottish influence on the development of jazz is a lot stronger than we all might think. This is exhilarating contemporary jazz with a deep respect for tradition, performed by a long-established, multi award-winning and world travelled group of Scotland’s finest jazz musicians.
The first Scottish immigrants to travel to Canada and America shared their folk songs on their journeys, including a uniquely Scottish musical tradition known as call-and-response line-singing. This way of making music would become a core element in the development of jazz and popular music and alongside the work of prominent 19th century abolitionist and frequent visitor to Scottish shores, Frederick Douglass, it forms the foundation of BMQ’s celebration of jazz’s Scottish roots.
Formed in 2012 by Glasgow-based saxophonist and former Jazzwise ‘One to Watch’ Brian Molley, BMQ brings together some of the finest musicians from the UK’s jazz scene, with pianist Tom Gibbs, double bassist David Bowden and drummer Stephen Henderson joining Molley.
Their enthusiastically received debut album, Clock was released in 2013 and was described by BBC Radio 3 as ‘a well-crafted and classy debut’ and by London Jazz News as ‘a minor masterpiece…strikingly good.’ Colour and Movement, their follow-up from 2017, was also greeted with praise. All About Jazz said, ‘Molley’s tone is gorgeous’. Subsequent releases have received similar plaudits such as ‘Molley never wastes a note’ (MOJO on 2021’s Modern Traditions) and ‘A heady mixture of contemporary jazz and traditional ideas…it’s exquisite’ (The Scotsman).
BMQ have been selected for the Made in Scotland programme at Edinburgh Festival Fringe an unprecedented four times and represented the cutting edge in UK jazz at Rochester International Jazz Festival, New York as part of Made in the UK 2015. On the same trip the group played club dates in New York City, drawing enthusiastic responses at Silvana in Harlem and WhyNotJazzRoom in Greenwich Village.
Their numerous national and international tours include appearances at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Manchester jazz festivals, a live session for BBC Radio 3’s Jazz Line-Up and several trips to tour, collaborate and record in India. Travels in India have proved particularly fruitful, leading to two acclaimed collaborations.
In co-production with Rajasthan International Folk Festival and working in a custom-built desert studio, Brian Molley Quartet and the Asin Langa Ensemble recorded Journeys, a suite of Molley’s music fused with folk songs from Northern India. Released to much acclaim in 2025 the album continues to gather praise including ‘riveting…a joyfully intense cultural convergence’ The Scotsman. As part of the British Council’s UK/India season BMQ also produced Intercontinental, a remotely recorded album with renowned percussionist Krishna Kishor with subsequent touring in both India and the UK.
Further international touring has recently included performances in Europe, including at Sunside/Sunset in Paris and The Jazz Station in Brussels, as well as Auckland Arts Festival, New Zealand and Jarasum Jazz Festival, Seoul, South Korea. Most recently the group made their first trip to South America with concerts for Harmonia Jazz Festival in Joinville and Instituto Ling, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
BGMM Records BGMM 006 – Released 20th March 2026
Adam Roberts
Radio Summerhall Arts 