Terence Collie: ‘DNA’

I was delighted to discover pianist and composer Terence Collie earlier this year at the 606 Club, as part of Zoë Gilby’s band. Now he has released ‘DNA’, with compositions that explore his rich heritage.

The opening tune of DNA takes us from Montrose to Mahé and it seems to embody Collie’s musical style and its various influences, with a definite Scottish lilt merging into African rhythms and a decisive call and response between his piano and the string trio. It sets the tone for what becomes a brilliantly cross-genre collection of tunes.

Reflecting on his recent MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Amplified Award 2025, Collie saod: “Winning the award made me reflect on my personal connection to my ancestry. I took a DNA test and discovered I come from 26 different nations. My third-great-grandfather, John Moses Collie, was born in Montrose. He left Aberdeen by boat in 1830, journeyed around the Horn of Africa, and arrived in the Seychelles. There, he married a French woman and opened one of the island’s first schools. What struck me about the Seychelles was its youth – just 250 years of  habitation! – and its incredible cultural diversity.” 

The second track - Good Genes - makes delicate use of the strings, particularly behind the bass solo and then as solos are swapped between bass, drums and percussion. The string writing is similarly beautiful on Beau Vallon, with Collie’s arrangement making the very best use of their addition.

To create the perfect sound of the DNA compositions and improvisations, Collie’s piano combines with Nick Lenner-Webster (double bass), Ted Carrasco (drums), Cosimo Keita Cadore (percussion), Ruth Elder (violin, string consultant), Clare Kennington (viola) and Jocasta Mudge (cello). For her 606 Club gig, Zoë Gilby had selected an outstanding band including Collie, Lenner-Webster and Carrasco, with sax player Tony Kofi. You can read my review of that gig here.

Rhythmically, DNA is all over the place - literally taking inspiration from around the world and bringing it into the jazz sphere.

Collie’s piano playing is wonderful but his composition chops have really come to the fore on DNA. He said: “Searching for my ancestry flicked a switch in my mind. I’ve had an outpouring of creativity,  writing better music than ever before. This is only the beginning; I feel like I’ve found my calling.”

Get hold of ‘DNA’ on Adhyâropa Records here