News

20/04/16 – More albums and new solo project!

So, after all the questio io album launch a few other recordings I've been lucky to feature on have been released.

First came the joyful debut Young Pilgrims album Little Things which finally irrefutably exposed my double life as a Birmingham based sousaphone player. Then came Jarlath Henderson's epic solo album Hearts Broken, Heads Turned that allowed me to break out the Flugelhorn with my fellow Beard Horns. Finally, this week saw the release of Rachel Newton's beautiful new album Here's My Heart Come Take It. Rachel generously allowed me to try a few things out with a variety of horns which I hope has added something a little different.. in a good way!

All of this has left me hungry to embark on my own solo project, so this week I have started working on a completely self-written and played EP that will hopefully be ready to launch in the summer!

In the meantime have a listen to the title track from Rachel's album!

20/03/16 – questio io – ‘Take A Moment Apart

After a year of hard work I am happy to say that questio io's debut album is now officially on sale. If you'd like to know more about this project why not pop over to questio.io

Celtic Connections 2016

Celtic Connections is over for another year and it's been a cracker. I was lucky to get to play with The Mike and Ruthy Band, Frazey Ford and a sold out Burns night special with the SNJO featuring the amazing Eddi Reader at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

I also found time to go and see some amazing gigs including The Shee Continuum, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn and a few awesomely eclectic nights at the Festival Club. If your liver can handle it I would say a night at the Festival Club should be on everyone's bucket list!

Actually, I'm 100% sure teetotalers are welcomed with open arms too... so get yourselves to Glasgow in January folks! I promise it's worth it.

Summer 2015

I guess the summer is almost over and looking back it’s been an absolute cracker! I’ve played at some incredible festivals including: Paris Jazz Festival, Festivalul Internațional Craiova Muzicală, Love Supreme, St Magnus International Festival, Belladrum, Glasgow Jazz Festival and Pride Glasgow. A lot of the work I’ve been doing this summer has been completely new to me with much more emphasis on the sousaphone and trumpet than previous years and I have been fortunate to play with lots of new people including the likes of Texas, Brandon Flowers and the ever energetic Riot Jazz! I was also luck to get to see more of the beautiful country that I live in whilst on the SNJO‘s Alba: Songs of Scotland tour of the highlands and islands with the amazing Eddi Reader. Whenever I’ve been at home I’ve been chipping away at editing and mixing the the forthcoming Questio io album with Mattie Foulds at Mobile With A Home and I’m happy to say that it’s slowly edging towards completion (hopefully I will have more news on this soon)!

Finally, one of the most enjoyable gigs of the summer for me was playing the beautiful music of my pal Brodie Jarvie for the last time before he moved to Amsterdam to study how to become even more jazzy… if that’s possible…

Martyn Bennett

At the start of the year I played a small part in Greg Lawson's orchestral reworking of Martyn Bennett's seminal album Grit for the opening of Celtic Connections. It really was an unforgettable experience which was hopefully a fitting tribute to a man who's influence on Scottish music is still being felt today.

SNJO featuring Makoto Ozone – Jeunehomme: Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 9 K-271

The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra recently released a new album featuring the incredible Makoto Ozone which you can buy here! While you wait for your copy to arrive why not watch the whole concert!

Welcome

Welcome to my new website! Here is a wee Young Pilgrims video to get the party started!

Gigs

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

29/04/16 – Bass Trombone – The SNJO presents The Music of Dave Brubeck – Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh – Scotland

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

30/04/16 – Bass Trombone – The SNJO presents The Music of Dave Brubeck – Sage, Gateshead – England

Scottish National Jazz Orchestra

01/05/16 – Bass Trombone – The SNJO presents The Music of Dave Brubeck – RCS, Glasgow – Scotland

Discography

Biography

Michael Owers is a Glasgow based musician and brass specialist who is completely at home playing in a variety of styles. As a result of this he has had the opportunity to play and record with the likes of: Admiral Fallow, Brandon Flowers, Capercaillie, Hue and Cry, Jarlath Henderson, Labrinth, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Rachel Newton, Scottish Opera and Texas. Current projects include playing bass trombone for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra, tenor trombone with the multi-award winning jazz ensemble Brass Jaw and sousaphone for Birmingham's glorious jazz/rock marching band Young Pilgrims. Michael also leads the folk fusion band Questio Io which brings together six of the most exciting musicians from Glasgow’s increasingly interconnected folk and jazz scenes, allowing them the freedom to try out new things in a playfully unconventional line-up. Michael's career has been built on the solid foundations provided by studying classical music extensively at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) where he received his Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Masters degrees. Michael’s studies were supported by awards from the Leverhulme Trust, the Scottish International Education Trust and a Yamaha Brass Scholarship. This year will see the release of his first solo recording which will draw inspiration from all of these experiences and more.