Dave Milligan is a young Scottish pianist who seems equally at home in jazz and modern developments of Scottish folk music. This trio is firmly on the jazz side of the spectrum, but there are plenty of Celtic echoes here, notably in a beautifully restrained and plaintive piece called 'Piper's Bidding'. The trio, completed by bassist Tom Lyne and drummer Tom Bancroft, has an exceptionally complete and cohesive sound, with great attention paid to dynamics and textures. The result is much more varied music than you would expect from this conventional-looking instrumentation....'Late Show' CD of the week
Media Reviews
a dazzling display of technical skills and invention
In a programme of original pieces, pianist David Milligan gives a dazzling display of technical skills and invention, bassist Tom Lyne and drummer Tom Bancroft each adding their distinct musical personalities. But it's Dave Milligan's own playing which makes an enormous impression - a keyboard master of today who is more melodic than, say, Bobo Stenson, but gentler than Jarret. Certainly that's the sort of company he belongs in." Pete Martin.
scintillating and adventurous debut album
"PIANIST Dave Milligan has sounded like a musician on the verge of greater things for a while and this scintillating and adventurous debut album confirms that suspicion. He is equally at home in jazz and folk, and the genres are now deeply interlinked in his musical imagination. The music focuses on his qualities as a jazz improviser and composer but an overt folk influence emerges at various points, notably in the echo of pibroch on Piper’s Bidding. Tom Lyne (bass) and Tom Bancroft (drums) ensure that the trio is a genuine collaboration."
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