SHINE Jess Gillam

• 1 Shine You No More (Arr. Parkin) 03:46
• 2 Jig of Life (Arr. Vennart) 04:08
• 3 Che si può fare (Arr. Vennart) 04:29
• 4 Tabhair dom do lámh (Arr. Becker) 03:40
• 5 Flute Concerto in A Minor, H. 431: I. Allegro assai (Arr. Parkin) 07:31
• 6 Petite Fleur (Arr. Becker) 03:32
• 7 Tribute to Sidney Bechet 02:22
• 8 A Case of You (Arr. Newell) 04:54
• 9 La Folia (Arr. Parkin & Poxon) 05:47
• 10 Life on Mars (Arr. Vennart) 03:41
• 11 Prelude to Hildegard 02:32
• 12 Spiritus sanctus vivificans (Arr. Lawson) 03:11
• Total Runtime 49:33

Info for SHINE

SHINE, the new album from saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam, arrives on 9 October 2026.

“I had one ambition with this project: to make an album that would make people smile,” says Jess. “I wrote down an album manifesto about a year ago and it simply said: BIG ENERGY. BEAUTY. MUSIC TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE. MUSIC TO LIFT PEOPLE UP.”

Spanning 900 years of music, SHINE brings together folk traditions, Baroque masterpieces, jazz, classical music and contemporary song in a programme that reflects Jess’s eclectic musical upbringing.

“I know music alone can’t fix the world but it can be a positive, unifying light in a world that can feel increasingly overwhelming and chaotic. That positive power is what I’m trying to celebrate on this album. I’m hoping that across these 11 tracks, you’ll find music packed with a whole lot of raw, impactful energy – whether you’ll be dancing to Bechet’s riotous riffs, comforted by the tender beauty of Ó Catháin’s “Tabhair dom do Lámh” or celebrating life with Hildegard von Bingen’s “Spiritus sanctus vivificans”.

eeping collaboration and connection at its heart, the album pairs well known classics with new discoveries. Alongside Jess are Max Baillie and Ellie Consta (violin), Ali Vennart (viola), Hadewych van Gent (cello), Sam Becker (double bass), Sam Wilson (drums/percussion) and Leif Kaner-Lidström (piano). She’s also joined by an extended string group for the C.P.E. Bach.

Recorded over just three days at School Farm Studios in Cambridgeshire, SHINE marks Jess’s first album as co producer, working alongside Norwegian violinist and artistic director of Barokksolistene, Bjarte Eike, Sam Becker and engineer and mixer Will Purton.

”Making this album was honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had," says Jess. “The dedication and skill of the musicians in the room made me feel unbelievably grateful to have picked up a saxophone at the age of seven and for it to have become my life. I’ve loved co-producing this album and I’ve learnt so much along the way. I’m so thankful to all of the players and everyone behind the scenes for giving this album absolutely everything.”

The album includes music by Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen, Kate Bush, Barbara Strozzi, C.P.E. Bach, Sidney Bechet, Barbara Thompson, Joni Mitchell, Corelli, David Bowie and Hildegard of Bingen. It also features Prelude to Hildegard, an improvisation on the final track, Hildegard of Bingen’s Spiritus sanctus vivificans.

Described by The Times as “everybody’s favourite saxophonist” and praised for her “breath-taking high wire virtuosity” by The Arts Desk, Jess has become one of Britain’s most distinctive musical voices. The first saxophonist to sign with Decca Classics, she is the award-winning presenter of BBC Radio 3′s This Classical Life, became the youngest ever soloist to perform at the BBC’s Last Night of the Proms and was awarded an MBE for services to music in 2021.

Jess Gillam, saxophone
Max Baillie, violin
Ellie Consta, violin
Ali Vennart, viola
Hadewych van Gent, cello
Sam Becker, double bass
Sam Wilson, drums, percussion
Leif Kaner-Lidström, piano

Jess Gillam
is a celebrated saxophonist and presenter. With her electrifying performances, vibrant stage presence and magnetic personality, the ‘uniquely mercurial’ (The Times) Jess has been invited to play on the world’s major stages since becoming the youngest ever soloist to perform at the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, London. Equally at home behind the microphone, Jess’ award-winning weekly show, This Classical Life, on BBC Radio 3 is now in its eighth season.

Jess is passionate about broadening the repertoire for the saxophone, especially in the classical sphere. Recent commissions include Glasslands by Anna Clyne premiered with the Detroit Symphony. Other new works include Dani Howard’s Saxophone Concerto, first heard with Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, and Karl Jenkins’s Stravaganza performed to a sold-out BBC Proms audience. Jess held the position of Associate Artist of the Royal Albert Hall until 2025 and is an Artistic Partner of Manchester Camerata.

Jess’ concerto appearances have included performances with the BBC orchestras, DSO Berlin, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Gothenburg, Iceland, Lahti, London, NDR Elbphilharmonie and Sydney Symphony Orchestra as well as the London, Royal Liverpool and Munich Philharmonic, among others. Further afield, concerto highlights in the US have included the Houston Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, the Lincoln Center Festival Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra.

On the recital stage, Jess is seen performing across Europe, the US and beyond. As a former ECHO Rising Star, Jess has appeared throughout Europe’s most prestigious concert halls, including Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Wiener Konzerthaus, Konzerthuset Stockholm and Barcelona’s Palau de le Musica.

An exclusive recording artist with Decca Classics, Jess is the first and only saxophonist to be signed to the major label. Both her albums have reached No. 1 in the UK Classical Music Charts and her debut album, Rise, was listed in The Times’ Top 100 albums of 2019. Alongside her weekly Radio 3 show, Jess has presented on BBC Radio 2, co-hosted a mini-series on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and presented at the BBC Proms and BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Jess loves collaboration and has performed with her band throughout the UK and Europe to multiple sold-out audiences at venues and festivals including the Wigmore Hall, Latitude Festival, Mozartfest Augsburg and Bath Festival.

In 2016, Jess Gillam made history after becoming the first saxophonist to reach the Finals of BBC Young Musician of the Year. She has been the recipient of a Classic BRIT Award, a The Times Breakthrough Award nominee and was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list 2021 for Services to Music. Returning to her roots in Ulverston in Cumbria, Jess continues to promote her own concert series in her hometown, inviting internationally renowned artists, a series she founded at age 12. She is a patron for Young Sounds UK, Music in Secondary Schools Trust, the London Music Fund and is a member of the Council of the Royal Philharmonic Society.

“Not just one of Britain’s most virtuosic instrumentalists, but also an unstuffy, inspiring personality.” The Times

“A true inspiration…she frankly rocks” Huffington Post

“…Gillam produced some astonishing virtuosity. At times her sound was pure bebop, punching out staccato barks like a boxer; in tandem with Noseda she galvanised the LSO as I’ve seldom heard them before.” INEWS

“She became the youngest presenter in Radio 3’s history with her terrifically engaging Saturday show This Classical Life. With or without her sax, she’s a terrific advocate for why music and music-making matters.” The Times

‘Gillam is so knowledgeable and enthusiastic that she wins you over and by the end of its [This Classical Life] half-hour slot I’m left wanting more.’ The Spectator

“There are many more established presenters who lack Gillam’s warmth and impressive ability” The Guardian

“She had the Royal Albert Hall in the palm of her hand” The Telegraph

This album contains no booklet.