Singer Marianne McGregor has been making an impact on the jazz scene in Scotland over the past few years. Her debut album Good Morning Warning appeared in 2020, she was voted best vocalist 2021 and 2023 in the Scottish Jazz Awards, and has been appearing around the nation with her gutsy and well-honed jazz technique combined with a pop directness.
It’s one thing to be a fine singer. Marianne has been writing her own material and now presents a collection of her songs. Make Believe features 11 tracks, all originals, which show a fine talent. Supported by Creative Scotland, surrounded by a top-class band and featuring a super variety of styles, these songs are varied, catching and memorably delivered.
The opening Blue Birds Fly sees an 8-to-the-bar feel with Paul Harrison’s piano pushing the song along. Euan Allardice adds a trumpet obligato behind the second verse and chorus, before solos for Harrison on Hammond organ and Chris Greive on trombone. McGregor is well to the fore, supported by a fine arrangement with lots of horn backing and a proper on-the-nose ending. This track has been released as a single and it’s a fine introduction to her work, strong vocals over a detailed and well-performed instrumental track.
Hit The Lights is a late-night will-she-won’t-she ballad with Brian Molley’s tenor sax lending a smooth backing figure and nicely paced solo over a chunky chord sequence. McGregor’s voice loosens up as the song goes on, adding more embellishments and stylish variations so that we really feel the story moving along. My Misty Eyes is an uptempo swinger, powered along by Mario Caribe’s walking double bass and offering Max Popp some early drum breaks (nice that these are upfront and not at the end as usual!). McGregor swings back in with scat chorus which makes good use of the harmonic possibilities on offer.
The album continues with Like A Moth To A Flame, a bossa outing with stops bringing variety. Caribe takes a juicy bass solo and another scat chorus right on point, McGregor pulling out another line any horn player would be pleased to deliver. Molley’s flute takes the number out with an extended coda. Be Good To Me is a bouncing shuffle with some jazzy chord shifts – maybe the next single? Serpent slides along sinuously with some judicious vocal double-tracking and sax harmonies. Title track Make Believe is a strong finish, teetering on the verge of double time and then tipping over for Brian Molley’s tenor sax solo, stepping back for the closing verse before jumping over again for a full-on everybody in finish.
The most impressive thing about this album is not the excellent performances nor the varied and well-worked arrangements; it’s the quality of the songs themselves, telling stories, facing the world and developing reflections. Marianne McGregor is clearly a talent to watch and appreciate. With this collection she has definitely arrived as a songwriter.
Video: Like A Moth To A Flame live at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
Marianne McGregor Quintet will be in concert at the Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Friday 11 July 2025, 6pm, St Andrew Square Speigeltent – BOOKINGS
