Photo credit: Dave Stapleton

Can you tell us about your new album and plans to tour the music?

I’m really excited about releasing this album with these wonderful musicians. We only hooked up a couple of years ago when we had a few plays in Huws garden studio playing standards and Ornette Coleman tunes etc, We soon started going into free improvisations (from the initial tunes) which were surprising structural in form From the outset of playing with Huw and Jay in a trio setting everything felt easy and unforced. We tried to capture this feeling on the record (although its much more produced obviously) and I think we have been successful in this. In terms of touring and playing the music I see this group as an ongoing project so expect to be doing gigs throughout 26-27 and beyond hopefully!

What other projects are you currently involved with?

I’m always thinking of music I want to write so I try and write something most days although it’s been a bit less frequent recently. I’m currently working on an album with my old friend and amazing guitarist John Parricelli. We have only just started to decided what material to record so it’s a way off but that will probably be my next record I reckon!

What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?

I listen to music every day, most of it is quite old to be honest and very varied. I’ve recently been listening a fair bit to film soundtracks from the 1960’s ( The Ipcress Files (John Barry) The Pawnbroker (Quincy Jones) etc I don’t really know why but I like listening to the orchestration and the incredible studio playing back then, its so interesting. I’ve also bought a vinyl version of Sinatra’s ‘In The Wee Small Hours’ that sounds incredible in every way! More recent records I’ve enjoyed are Laura Jurd’s last album called ‘Rites and Revelations’ Iain Ballamy’s new record and ( even though I’m on it) ‘Vital Spark’ by Dave Holland and Norma Winstone!

What is your all-time favourite album and why?

Oh, dear I can’t say really, it’s an impossible question to answer but here’s a few:

Gil Evans- The Individualism Of
Burt Bacharach- Make It Easy On Your Self
Herbie Hancock – The Prisoner
Kenny Wheeler- Music For Large and Small Ensembles

Wayne Shorter- Atlantis
John Surman- Road To St Ives
Pat Metheny 80-81

Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?

So many great young players coming up at the moment including a great your singer who I first met at Trinity Laban a few years ago called Rebecka Edlund – she’s a wonderful singer and composer.

Shapeshifter by Mark Lockheart is released on 6th March 2026 and available from Bandcamp.

Album Launch on 13th March at Vortex Jazz Club. Two shows with doors at 7.30pm & 9.30pm.

Click here to read our review.