Glasgow-based musician and composer Tina Jordan Rees is returning to her first musical love with a new EP of original piano music, set for release on Friday 4th December 2026.
Best known for her flute and whistle playing, including her acclaimed 2022 album Beatha, the two-time Scots Trad Music Awards Composer of the Year nominee is returning to the piano with a collection of compositions rooted in Irish and Scottish traditional music and her classical training. Piano EP explores the versatility of the instrument through familiar dance rhythms, unexpected time signatures and melodies inspired by experiences around the world.
The three-track release takes listeners on a musical journey from Hong Kong and Bali to the tennis courts of Wimbledon, with each composition drawing inspiration from a particular place or memorable moment.
Opening track ‘The Peak Tram / The Breakfast Monkey’, which will be released as the first single on Friday 6th November, begins with an inventive 3/4 hornpipe. Inspired by the traditional hornpipes Tina grew up Irish dancing to and playing for dancers, the tune reimagines the familiar rhythm with three beats to the bar rather than four.
Named after Hong Kong’s famous Peak Tram, the composition moves into a lively reel inspired by a mischievous monkey that stole a breakfast bowl during a holiday in Bali. The track also features bodhrán player Lea Larsen, whose lively accompaniment adds another dimension to the music.
The EP’s second track, ‘The Cliffs of Uluwatu’, offers a contrasting, more reflective atmosphere. Inspired by the dramatic coastal landscape of Bali, the slower composition draws on Tina’s classical piano background, allowing her expressive playing and melodic style to take centre stage.
The final track, ‘Pimm’s on the Hill / Bubbles Required’, brings the EP to an energetic close with a playful exploration of unusual time signatures.
Inspired by a visit to Wimbledon, ‘Pimm’s on the Hill’ is written in 7/8, while ‘Bubbles Required’moves between 7/8, 7/4 and 4/4. The result is a rhythmically adventurous set of tunes, with Lea Larsen returning on bodhrán to complement the shifting patterns. It will be released as the second single on Friday 20th November.
Tina Jordan Rees said: “The piano was my first love, so it’s been really enjoyable to return to it and put together a collection of my own compositions.
“I’ve always loved the rhythms and melodies of Irish and Scottish traditional music, but I also enjoy experimenting with time signatures and seeing where a tune might go. Some of these pieces were inspired by places I’ve visited and little moments that have stayed with me.
“I’m really pleased to be sharing some of my piano music and I hope people enjoy listening to something a little different from me.”
The EP was recorded, mixed and mastered by Gus Stirrat at Solas Sound in Glasgow.
Piano EP is released on Friday 4th December 2026 and is available to pre-order now via Bandcamp.
For more information on Tina Jordan Rees, please visit her website here.