I’m delighted to be part of a brilliant compilation curated by Women in Jazz, and today is release day for my single: Storm Deirdre!
The title Storm Deirdre refers both to a storm that hit the UK a few years ago and to my own name – an Irish name that originates from Deirdre of the Sorrows, a figure in Irish legend. I liked the idea of using it as a playful, personal title that also suggests energy and momentum.
The piece was recorded by MoonMot at the incredible Radiotelevisione studios in Lugano, Switzerland. The lineup features myself on alto saxophone, Simon Petermann (trombone), Cath Roberts (baritone saxophone), Oli Kuster (Rhodes), Seth Bennett (double bass), and Johnny Hunter (drums).
I wanted to compose something in 15/8 that felt both tuneful and unwieldy – like a kind of “wonky jig.” The melody is built from a tone row, with its second half acting as a mirror of the first. The trombone solo bursts in like a sudden gust of wind, while the bass, drums, and Rhodes fuel the turbulence with chaotic improvising.
Eventually, the storm quietens and we enter an electronics section: the eye of the storm. Here, momentum is suspended in a floating, liminal state. Gradually, the rhythm section creeps back in, reintroducing the opening theme. Finally, a bluesy theme emerges on the alto saxophone, declaring the end of the storm with spirit and optimism – the turbulence has passed, and we can move on.
Women in Jazz have been releasing a single by a different artist every month in 2025. It feels an honour to be among this talented, creative bunch!
DEE BYRNE 