Electronic Press Kit
Rising Star, Multi-Instrumentalist And Composer’s Debut Album
Triquetra is the debut album from the harpist, flautist and vocalist Catriona Bourne, released on 11th October 2024. An impulsive dive into experimental folk-jazz drawing off Catriona’s Scottish heritage, this album transports listeners through nostalgic and evocative pieces that explore the essence of a lost past.
The record has been acclaimed by critics, described as ‘haunting Gaelic-blues’ (Morning Star) taking ‘a genuinely sublime and wholly unique perspective’ (Blue-in-Green: Radio). It has been played on national radio, including Alyn Shipton’s Radio 3 show ‘Jazz Record Requests’ and three times on Radio 3 show ‘Round Midnight’ by Soweto Kinch, Rebecca Vasmant and Kevin Le Gendre, as well as local radio including Lynette Fay’s ‘Folk Club’ on BBC Radio Ulster. Currently nominated for Indie Boulevard Magazine's 2024 Album of the Year, it was also named on jazz blog Bebop Spoken Here both in Lance Liddle’s Top 10 Instrumental Albums of 2024, and Colin Muirhead’s 8 Top Albums of 2024 by Live Act.
The album paints vivid pictures of nature and landscapes, with the legendary Sligachan Bridge on the Isle of Skye and the iconic rowan trees that dot the Scottish countryside serving as inspiration. From the sophisticated harmonies of Francis Poulenc to the groove of Roy Hargrove, Catriona’s compositions blend elements of jazz, classical, and folk traditions, including reimaginings of traditional folk tunes and ballads. The quartet bring a variety of colours and textures, including swirling electronic harp textures from Catriona, extraordinary guitar virtuosity from Francis Tulip, and a combination of driving power and sensitivity from James Owston and Joe Bainbridge.
The album was backed by Youth Music’s NextGen Fund, made possible thanks to principal partner the Players of People’s Postcode Lottery and support from Dr Martens Foundation. Catriona also single-handedly organised an 8-date autumn tour to celebrate the launch of the album, supported financially by the UK Harp Association.
Bio
Catriona Bourne is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist who has performed at venues and events including London Jazz Festival, Wilderness Festival, Sinfonia Smith Square, Kings Place and Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music. She has experimented with flute and live electronics, recently performing a solo set of her own arrangements and improvisations in the Elgar Room at the Royal Albert Hall. Although she studied classical harp throughout school, Catriona is most excited by the opportunities to improvise and compose for the harp. She has always had an interest in folk, and combines this with her love of jazz through her original compositions.
In 2024 she released her debut album, Triquetra, in her quartet featuring Francis Tulip, Joe Bainbridge and James Owston, and commenced an 8-date album release tour supported by the UK Harp Association. The album is an impulsive dive into experimental jazz-infused folk that draws off Catriona’s Scottish heritage, exploring nostalgia for a lost past.
Catriona has worked as a session musician with a number of artists including world-jazz singer Lea Mondo, jazz fusion keys player Tsz Ching Kylie and singer-songwriter Grace Angelica, performing at venues including the Jazz Cafe, Ninety One Living Room and Crazy Coqs. Having honed her academic knowledge of music through study at Oxford and Cambridge Universities and developed her improvisation skills in postgraduate study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire and with Tomorrow’s Warriors Jazz Strings programme, she is currently based in London.
Reviews
‘Haunting Gaelic-blues… Musical fusion that is truly compelling to the ears’ (Morning Star)
‘A genuinely sublime and wholly unique perspective… There’s something about Catriona’s music that lends itself to the joy of earnest exploration’ (Blue-in-Green: Radio)
'Catriona Bourne is as much a jazz musician as any contemporary horn player' (Bebop Spoken Here)
'I have to say I am going to be doing a deep dive into more of her music as this is just beautiful' (Rebecca Vasmant, BBC R3 Round Midnight)
‘Music with great finesse’ (Kevin Le Gendre, BBC R3 Round Midnight)
'A stunning album... Just when you think you have it pinned down, it slips from your grasp and finds another definition' (Fatea Magazine)
‘I don’t know if Catriona Bourne would call herself a genius, but I will… What Bourne creates transcends categories’ (Indie Boulevard Magazine)
Interviews
Radio Play
Round Midnight on BBC R3 (hosted by Kevin Le Gendre)
Round Midnight on BBC R3 (hosted by Soweto Kinch)
Round Midnight on BBC R3 (hosted by Rebecca Vasmant)
Jazz Record Requests on BBC R3 (hosted by Alyn Shipton)
Folk Club on BBC Radio Ulster (hosted by Lynette Fay)
Melting Pot on Music Box Radio (hosted by Soulsa’s Mr Boogie)
GW Jazz on One Jazz (hosted by Gordon and Gillian Wedderburn)
Jazz Show on Anker Radio (hosted by Peter Varden)
Sounds Like Jazz on 10 Radio (hosted by Sue Steward)
Hot Biscuits Jazz Show on FC Radio (hosted by Steve Bewick)
Jazztonic on Radio Nene Valley (hosted by David Cragie)
Awards and Recogition
Bebop Spoken Here: Lance Liddle’s Top 10 Instrumental Albums of 2024
Bebop Spoken Here: Colin Muirhead’s 8 Top Albums of 2024 by Live Act
Nominated for Indie Boulevard Magazine’s 2024 Album of the Year
Fatea Magazine’s 2024 Winter Showcase Session Compilation
Song of the Week on All About Jazz
Videos and Images
Catriona Bourne Quartet: Live Dates
2024 Triquetra Release Tour:
September 20th - Shipston Methodist Church, Warwickshire
October 6th - The Globe, Newcastle Jazz Festival
October 11th - Toulouse Lautrec Jazz Club, London (Album launch). Tickets available here
October 24th - UWC, London (members only)
November 2nd - Southside House, London (members only)
November 19th - Digbeth Jazz, Birmingham
November 7th - The Jazz Sanctuary, Twickenham (with special guests Ethan Windle on congas, Lauren Breen on saxophone and Tom Stringer on trumpet)
December 12th - Jazz in the Crypt at Sinfonia Smith Square
2025 North-East and Scotland Tour:
May 21st - Jazz-at-Heart Leeds
May 22nd - Carlisle Jazz Club
May 23rd - The Vault, Dumfries and Galloway
May 24th - Summerhall Edinburgh
May 25th - Northumberland Jazz Festival in Hexham
May 26th - Yahama Music School in Blyth (lunchtime concert)