A CLACKS piano prodigy is in the running for two music awards.

Dollar-bred jazz pianist and composer Fergus McCreadie is on the longlist for this year's Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.

Fergus, who left for Glasgow a few years ago to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and is understood to have returned to his home town during lockdown, has also been nominated in the Jazz FM Awards 2022 in the Instrumentalist of the Year category as well as for Public Vote Album of the Year.

For both the SAY Award and the Jazz FM album category, the musician and his trio, including David Bowden on double bass and Stephen Henderson on drums, have been nominated for their album Forest Floor.

Even more vigorous and vibrant than before, Forest Floor is Fergus' third official release.

His writing is again inspired by the Scottish landscape, much like the second album Cairn.

The new album reflects the changing seasons and the latest recording may be the trio's Earthiest yet.

The album opener Law Hill is named after an Ochils landmark and many other tunes reflect on how hill walking has become Fergus' release during lockdown.

Speaking of the SAY Award nomination, Fergus said: “I'm absolutely thrilled that Forest Floor has been included on the longlist for The SAY Award 2022 – it's such a great celebration of music in Scotland and to represent Scottish Jazz on that list is an honour.”

The winner of the SAY Award 2022 will be announced at a ceremony at Stirling's Albert Halls on October 20.

Also in the running from the county next door is Constant Follower, created by frontman Stephen McAll and supported by Andrew Pankhurst on guitar, backing vocalist and synth player Amy Campbell as well as Kathleen Stosch with backing vocals, synth and bass.

Their debut album Neither Is, Nor Ever Was impressed critics and Stephen said: “I’m delighted, but I’m even happier that the efforts of all of the people who worked with me on the album are being recognised.

“For me, the magic in music is in collaboration, and this would have been a very different album without all the people who played on it, helped me record it, created the artwork and films, and of course the co-production of Kramer, whose genius... well, I haven’t the words to describe.”

For the Jazz FM Awards, members of the public can support Fergus McCreadie and his trio by voting via jazzfmawards.com until next Monday, September 26, at 6pm.