Originally
from the Rhondda Valleys in Wales, Sheffield-based drummer and composer Sarah Heneghan presents a trio album that brings together improvisation, Nordic jazz, folk, post-rock, minimalism and ambient electronics. Built around lyrical flugelhorn melodies, gently patterned piano and highly textural
drumming, the music evokes landscapes, long train journeys, and the changing
moods of coast and countryside.
Tiny Sacred Gaps is set for release on October 9th, 2026.
The album marks the culmination of music Heneghan had wanted to make for years, with much of the writing centred on experimenting with instrumental colour and ensemble interaction. Some pieces began with cello and clarinet before evolving into arrangements for trumpet and flugelhorn, while the combination of free improviser Charlotte Keeffe and classically trained pianist Ben Gaunt helped
shape a sound that moves comfortably between contemporary jazz, chamber music
and atmospheric, textural composition.
Across the album, improvisation is treated as a shared process rather than a showcase for individual solos. Repeating piano figures inspired by composers such as Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt and Hauschka sit alongside lyrical horn writing, spacious electronics and rhythmic interplay, creating music that ranges from intimate trio passages to expansive,
cinematic soundscapes.
Individual tracks reveal different aspects of the trio's musical language. Water Never Leaves transforms a slowed-down folk jig through free improvisation and electronic textures, while The Rhondda Line draws on post-rock and dark drones. Elsewhere, Light Poles explores delicate minimalism through repeating piano figures, and Heath builds towards an emotionally charged climax inspired by the intensity of Sigur Rós, Mogwai and Radiohead.
Alongside her work as a performer and composer, Heneghan teaches at the University of Sheffield, founded the community project Key of She for women and minoritised genders, and co-leads the Footprints Artist Development Programme. She has performed at EFG London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival and Liverpool International Jazz Festival, as well as venues including Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, the Barbican Centre and the Southbank Centre. With this release, Heneghan brings together the diverse musical influences that have shaped her work, creating an album where improvisation, composition and texture meet with clarity and restraint.
Tour dates:
Sat 17 October – Pizza Express Soho Jazz Club, London
Tue 27 October – Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
Sun 1 November – The Globe, Newcastle
Wed 4 November – Matt & Phreds, Manchester
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