rhythmaning | Colin Steele and Dave Milligan at Rosslyn Chapel

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine asked me to take some pictures at a jazz concert – Colin Steele and Dave Milligan in duet at Rosslyn Chapel.

This was special for several reasons – I love the setting, I love the musicians and frankly I had been looking forward to the gig for months. I was asked to take pictures at the last minute: photography wasn't normally allowed in the chapel, but the people who look after Rosslyn wanted to have a record of the concert and it was too late for the organisers to contact their usual (professional!) photographer – I had asked if it were possible to take pictures so they knew I was keen and going to the gig. Win/win, as they say.

So I got to sit in on the sound check: essentially they ran through the concert, and I walked through the chapel. Their music was beuatiful, and sounded superb in the ethereal setting of the chapel. They were up for experimenting – playing around with tunes and technique – Steele at times blowing notes high toward the roof for the acoustics or straight into the piano for the resonance.

There were only two or three people present – me, the organiser and the custodian of Rosslyn Chapel, with a cuple of others wandering in and out. It felt very luxurious – precious even – being able to wander around and photograph the musicians.

Here are some of the many pictures I took.