Laura Macdonald
I'm Laura Macdonald and I have been a jazz musician on the UK jazz scene since I was 16 years old. I graduated from Berklee College of music 1998 and have worked on the UK and European Jazz scene ever since. I have been fortunate to play with amazing musicians such as Martin Taylor, Claudia Roditti, Ken Peplowski, Maria Schneider, Wycliffe Gordon and many, many more. I have produced 4 albums in my own name have been nominated for the Paul Hamlyn Composers Award twice. After winning the title of Scottish Jazz Performer of the year in 2021, I most recently have taken up a post as jazz lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where I have the honour of educating the next generation of Scottish Jazz Musicians.
In my performing career I have drawn inspiration from many amazing jazz composers and musicians worldwide, including incredible female composers such as Carla Bley and Maria Schneider, but my long life of listening and development is not over and there is so much more to learn.
I have been a regular performer at Islay Jazz Festival for about 20 years and the jazz festival was the catalyst for my ongoing love affair with the island. This breathtaking island is the ideal location for a creative music form such as jazz and the Islay Jazz Festival is now firmly rooted in the island's history!