Limitation can be a creative force in a world where anything is possible, and for a young Liam Shortall, that pool of influence & opportunity was as diverse as any. Born in Glasgow and surrounded by music from a young age, he gravitated initially towards instrumental music, picking up the trombone, learning his jazz chops, and listening to the big band, blues, and ska sounds of his family home.
A tendency to self-deprecation is a way that Glasgow has impressed itself on Shortall, albeit one which at times tipped over into self-criticism. Nowhere is that struggle & vulnerability more present than on his debut album Bad With Names. As much as Bad With Names showcases some of Glasgow’s finest, it's also the most complete statement of the corto.alto sound to date – a riptide demonstration of his multi-instrumental abilities (trombone, guitar, bass, synths, programming, tuba, percussion), punchy improvisation and subtle electronic production that has stitched it all back together again.
