ABOUT
I initially trained as a classical guitarist, studying at Dartington College of Arts for two years after leaving school, and then at the Royal Scottish Academy Of Music & Drama (Glasgow) where I studied with Phillip Thorne, gaining a BA in Music Performance (1989) and winning the Guitar Challenge Prize (1988).
Following a Post-Grad Certificate in Performance (1990), I began a PhD in music composition, with Nigel Osborne at the University of Edinburgh, in 1992. This was completed in 1999. At this time, I was also working in Scottish theatre where I wrote music for over 40 productions, 20 of which were for the Traverse Theatre (Edinburgh).
I have taught at St Mary’s Music School (Edinburgh) and The City of Edinburgh Music School and lectured at Edinburgh Napier University, where I was asked to redesign their ‘Music, Creativity & Communication’ course for the BA in Popular Music. I currently work as a PSA in Edinburgh Schools.
BOOKS/POETRY
I’m the author of three sci-fi novels comprising The Smith Chronicles series of books, and I’m also a published poet and short-story writer, having had works included in several journals and web-zines such as Poetry Scotland, The Open Mouse, Blinking Cursor, Essence, Ink, Sweat & Tears, A Handful of Stones, South and Streetcake Magazine, amongst others.
THE JOHN IRVINE BAND
Over the course of my life, much of my music listening has been devoted to the great fusion players and bands of the past 40 years – Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, Allan Holdsworth, Jan Garbarek, Weather Report, Shadowfax etc… I had finished my Doctorate in classical composition, but now wanted to reflect what I’d learned from those wonderful musicians listed above and, hopefully, add something new to the jazz-rock genre.
So, in 2010 I began to write music for a guitar trio setting and formed The John Irvine Band in 2011 – the result became my first album, ‘Wait & See’. Two more albums followed in this vein ‘Next Stop’ (2013) and ‘Metaphysical Attractions’ (2018) until I decided to add a more progressive element to the music resulting in ‘The Machinery Of The Heavens’ (2020) and ‘Psychopomp’ (2022). Of course, being a child of the 70s, my interest in progressive music has always been there – Gentle Giant, Rush, Vangelis… and so many other great bands. ‘The End of Days Trilogy’ followed with ‘Scanning The Dark Horizon’ (2023), The Starships Are Gathering’ (2024) and ‘Here Come The Robots!’ (2025). And this year I released the first ‘all vocal’ JIB album ‘Take Me To Your Leader’, featuring Gordon Robertson.
All 9 albums have received awards and plaudits from many Progressive Rock and Jazz Fusion magazines and websites. Several tracks have been played on internet and terra firma radio stations, such as: The Prog Rock Palace, Xymphonia, El Ritorno Del Gigante, Canvas Prog Hour, Friday Night Progressive & La Villa Strangiato. I was delighted when ‘Metaphysical Attractions’ was awarded 3rd place in the Fusion category in the 2019 Friday Night Progressive ‘IndieProg’ Awards.
WHAT THE PRESS SAY!
“The progressive rock album that Allan Holdsworth never made.” – René Yedema (Radio Xymphonia on ‘Next Stop’)
“Irvine just about revolutionizes the entire jazz-rock instrumental concept.” – Robert Silverstein (MWE3.com on ‘Next Stop’)
‘With “Next Stop” Irvine proves himself to be just as good as Holdsworth at his best, in both writing and performing.” – Joseph Shingler (Prognaut.com)
“Intelligently written progressive fusion: 14.5/16” – Warren Barker (Progression Magazine)
“A group that, ultimately, can become one of the most high-profile acts of this kind worldwide: 9/10” – Alfredo Tapia-Carreto (Manticornio.com)
“These are musicians that are worthy of global attention.” – MJ Brady (ProGGnosis.com)
“An extra-terrestrial marriage combining rich multi-layered compositions with strong and memorable themes, none of which ever appear to be self-indulgent but encompasses a complexity that challenges and enthrals.” – Bob Mulvey (TPA on ‘Psychopomp’)
For me, the name John Irvine is a synonym for high quality compositions in the jazz rock atmosphere, compositions that are perfectly performed and produced.” – Pedro Bekkers (Background Magazine on ‘Metaphysical Attractions’)
“It is one of those albums that provides the listener with something new every time, and it is a very, very fine album.” – Steven Lazenby (Lazland on ‘The Starships Are Gathering’)
johnirvine.co.uk 