Savourna Stevenson & Steve Kettley Time to savour ‘Wine of Life’

Savourna Stevenson & Steve Kettley

Time to savour ‘Wine of Life’

Savourna Stevenson and Steve Kettley are delighted to announce that their collaborative harp and saxophone album ‘Wine of Life’ will be released by Cooking Vinyl on 20th January 2023. Savourna was recently honoured to have some of her music, a choral version of ‘Psalm 121’ apparently a favourite of the late monarch, performed at the Thanksgiving Service for the life of HM Queen Elizabeth II at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh. Now this composer and clarsach [Gaelic Harp] virtuoso – described as “a national treasure” by The Herald – has joined forces with old friend and saxophonist Steve Kettley‘Wine of Life’ takes in elements of Classical genres, Folk, World and Jazz to create a unique blend of haunting melodies, pulsating rhythms and stirring improvisations. The album is preceded by the release of the first single ‘Tango Mafioso’ today, 18th November 2022

Savourna is known for breaking stylistic barriers while maintaining her Scottish roots. She has collaborated with musicians such as Aly BainEddi Reader and Toumani Diabate and is acclaimed for recent orchestral and choral works.  Savourna’s Harp String Quintet featured in the American TV series Sex and the City and Ugly Betty.  Savourna began playing the piano and composing from the age of 5 with her father, the composer Ronald Stevenson, and made her concert debut with the harp at the age of 15 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.

Steve Kettley leads several groups playing his original music, plus Orange Claw Hammer, interpreting the music of avant-rock legend Captain Beefheart He is well known as a founder member of the international touring and recording group Salsa Celtica (1995-2013). The saxophonist also performs regularly with former Scottish national poet Liz Lochhead.

Savourna said, “Steve performed and recorded on my albums back in the 90’s and we always promised to do more in the way of a collaboration. I guess we went off to do our own things, me with my orchestral and choral writing and Steve with Salsa Celtica and his avant-garde bands, and we both had families then”. Steve added, “In 2017, Savourna called me for an availability check for a harp festival booking. It all grew from the success of that gig and we decided to make an album. Then lockdown hit.”  This provided them with an impetus of sorts though, as Savourna says, “We thought that this was a creative opportunity, and that we should spend time arranging and recording our album. We decided to adopt a “glass half full” approach to the CD, hence the title, ‘Wine of Life’. Enjoy!”

Theirs is a musical match made in heaven and a profound creative relationship has grown since Savourna and Steve’s first performance together at Harp on Wight in October 2017. Recent concerts include the Spanish ‘Noia Harp Festival’Edinburgh Harp Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe, and there are more concerts in support of ‘Wine of Life’ album, to be announced soon.

‘Wine of Life’ is a beautiful blend of styles and genres, tradition and ambition that is sure to be savoured; this is music rooted in history and heritage but given a contemporary twist.

Pre-Order Album / Listen to ‘Tango Mafioso’