Declan Forde is a Scottish pianist, originally from Glasgow, who has been a vital part of Berlin’s Jazz scene since 2014. His music explores the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, blending a deep reverence for the history of improvised music with daring explorations into the unknown. Forde’s performances are known for their dynamic range, shifting from intricately melodic to provocatively disruptive. His music often defies easy categorisation, yet it is always infused with humour and joy that challenge expectations of what Jazz can be.
A regular solo performer, Forde was invited by the Berliner Festspiele to contribute to Rashid Johnson’s installation Antoine’s Organ at the Gropius Bau in 2019. From 2015 to 2024, he co-curated the concert series Practically Married at Donau115 with bassist James Banner, a venue hailed by The Guardian as one of the best Jazz clubs in Europe. The series will resume in July 2025 at Sowieso (Berlin). The duo has released seven recordings to date, including the eponymous Practically Married (2023), recorded directly to analogue tape at Emil Berliner Studios by Guy Sternberg, and most recently a live recording with Han Bennink and Tobias Delius.
Forde also leads a trio performing his own compositions with bassist Igor Spallati and drummer Ugo Alunni. In February 2025, the group performed with American tenor saxophonist Bill McHenry and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. In recent years, Forde has performed with both local and international artists including Han Bennink, Tony Malaby, Michael Attias, Doug Weiss, Andrea Parkins, Tobias Delius, and Jeff Williams.
Beyond the Jazz world, he has collaborated for over a decade with Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni, contributing to her albums The Bothy Sessions (2011), So It Turns (2019), and Dreamer Awake (2023).