United Kingdom Various, Cloud Chamber: Caroline Dale (cello), Gavin Greenaway (piano). Kings Place, London, 12.10.2026. (JR)
This concert coincided with the release of a new CD entitled Skylines (and a vinyl LP to boot!) by cellist Caroline Dale and pianist Gavin Greenaway (aka Cloud Chamber). These were new names to me, and I also guess to you, dear readers, so some words of introduction to the artists will not go amiss.
Caroline Dale has been Principal Cellist with the English Chamber Orchestra for the past 20 years and, aged 13, won the String Final of the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year. She has appeared as a soloist with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. She has worked with Nigel Kennedy as a member of his quartet, and moves between musical worlds, playing with (among many others) David Gilmour, Peter Gabriel and Sting. In her youth, Dale revered Jacqueline du Pré and was thrilled to play on the soundtrack to the film Hilary and Jackie about du Pre’s life. Dale’s solo album Such Sweet Thunder combines classical repertoire with her own compositions.
Gavin Greenaway is a British Emmy Award-winning pianist, composer and conductor, son of Roger, singer, songwriter and record producer. He has conducted over 100 film and television soundtracks. In 2018 Greenaway was appointed Musical Director for The World of Hans Zimmer.
Dale and Greenaway performed a number of songs from their new release, Skylines, in the first part of their concert. Many of them were meditative, soothing, and could be classified as mood music. Several (such as ‘Doriel’s Air’ and ‘On Rannoch Moor’) had Scottish folk tunes as their basis, with video projections of the majestic Cuillin Hills on the island of Skye or the snow-covered Cairngorms to further lift the spirits. It was a pity the artists felt it necessary to amplify both the cello and the Steinway, which made the sound a mite tinny. Electronic wizardry (when it worked) added to the mix. We were however transfixed by the quality of playing by both artists, warm tone and flawless technique from Dale on the cello and nimble fingerwork from Greenaway. It did not help concentration that the hall was hugely over-heated; staff brought in noisy fans which hardly helped. In addition to a hosepipe ban, is there now an air-conditioning ban too?
Some of the music could also be classed as film music. Images of old partly ruined churches, fields of swaying lavender, swirling clouds and soaring birds of prey completed the picture. Two pieces went down a storm: ‘Skyline’ was much more animated and the video fascinated with – yes, you guessed – skylines, I think mainly of Tokyo. The other rhythmic piece was in the second half, a stomping jazzy number entitled ‘We Danced For Seven’. There were hints of minimalism in ‘The Sun Rose’. Dale played one solo number from her solo album Such Sweet Thunder a multi-layered restful piece entitled ‘Merlin’s Hat’. One number was dedicated to the recently departed film and television composer George Fenton, which brought tears to Caroline Dale’s eyes.
Overall, this was restful predominantly mood music from two consummate musicians and I do hope the new release sells well and brings Cloud Chamber to the widespread attention they deserve.
John Rhodes