James McGowan Ensemble
Threads of Fate
James McGowan – Piano, Compositions
Richard Page – Alto & Soprano Sax, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Mike Tremblay – Tenor Sax & Flute
Ed Lister, Rebekah Waddell – Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Mark Ferguson – Trombone
Keith Hartshorn-Walton – Tuba
Cendrine Despax, Jean Despax – Violin
Maxime Despax – Viola
Valérie Despax, Cal McGowan – Cello
Jean-Philippe Lapensée – Bass
Jamie Holmes – Drum Set
Aleks Demkina, Kateryna Karpova, Alisa Rogul & Lesana Yatsenko – Poetry
Threads of Fate is Ottawa pianist and composer James McGowan’s tenth album as leader, and the third featuring his James McGowan Ensemble, a 14-piece ensemble that combines horns, strings, and rhythm section. Building upon the large-scale vision of the JME concept albums Reaching In (2023) and Reaching Out (2024), Threads of Fate dives deeper into dramatic storytelling through its collaboration with KingDom Theatre in a physical theatre production (premiered at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa in 2025) that explores a contemporary telling of the Greek mythological tale of the three Goddesses of Fate. The distinctive jazz-rock fusion—enhanced by a classical-style sensibility—drives the music forward with energetic rhythmic momentum, compelling melodic lyricism, and a reliance upon meaning-infused thematic interplay. Finally, original poetry, recited over three of the 18 musical tracks, helps to clarify the musical narrative presented in the largely instrumental pieces on this album.
McGowan wanted to create an ensemble that sometimes sounds like classical string chamber music and other times orchestral; sometimes suggests a big band and other times hits with a powerful rhythmic groove, and yet always stays cinematic or theatrical. As a result the musical palette is intentionally diverse. Hamza Sharkas from Sistra writes about the JME: “The mix of classical and jazz is superb…and again, the diversity here takes things to a whole new level.” Threads of Fate continues the journey.
Release Date: Friday, May 22nd 2026