Join Matt Carmichael as he showcases his new emotional driven instrumental album ‘Dancing with Embers’ joined by his regular quintet Fergus McCreadie, Charlie Stewart,  Ali Watson and Tom Potter.

Dancing with Embers, released March 2025, is the latest album from Scottish saxophonist and composer Matt Carmichael. Known for his powerfully emotive blend of melodic jazz and folk with previous albums Marram (Edition Records) and Where Will the River Flow, Dancing with Embers is his most ambitious work yet, expanding his musical sound world with guests Rachel Sermanni (voice), Brìghde Chaimbeul (small pipes), Chris Amer/Innes White (guitars) alongside his regular Quintet.

The album is a collection of emotionally driven instrumental songs where melody and feeling is at the forefront. An approach which stems from his earliest musical roots as a child, leading congregational singing from his saxophone in the church where his father was as a minister. Dancing with Embers reflects the flickering in and out of influences from Folk and Jazz traditions alongside melancholy and dynamic interplay, creating an album that is both intimate and expansive.

The live performances of the music feature Matt’s regular quintet with Fergus McCreadie (piano), Charlie Stewart (fiddle),  Ali Watson (bass) and Tom Potter (drums) who have a special chemistry together, having been playing and growing as musicians since they were teenagers. Each performance is a unique interpretation of Matt’s music and no set lists are made with collective improvisation being at the heart of the music.

Over the past few years they have performed throughout Europe at Bimhuis, Love Supreme Festival, Celtic Connections, Münster Jazz Festival, Fasching, Ronnie Scott’s, Göttingen Jazz Festival with the music gaining over 8 Million streams. Matt’s also featured as a soloist/arranger/composer with the Scottish National Jazz and WDR Big Band with further collaborations including Rob Luft, Bob Mintzer, corto.alto, Kathleen MaCInnes, Kim Carnie, Kjetil Mulelid, Liv Andrea Hauge and Brian Kellock.

Reviews

‘Has his own sound and is a storyteller…. very believable, lyrical and emotive’  BBC 4

‘Joyous’  Jamie Cullum (BBC Radio 2)

‘saxophonist Matt Carmichael stunned audiences into complete silence (followed by extended applause) with quiet, emotive melodies that blossomed into big cinematic climaxes.’ Snack Magazine

‘a rare talent has everything in it to become a classic’  Nettavison (NO)