The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra returns to one of its specialisms, the music of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, for its latest tour, which takes in Glasgow, St Andrews and Edinburgh from 8 to 10 December. Under the direction of [...]
Pianist Ben Shankland (*), a current student at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, has won the 2023 BBC Young Scottish Jazz Musician Award. The competition was held at BBC Scotland’s Studios on Pacific Quay in Glasgow yesterday 26 November. The other finalists [...]
As storm Babet blew outside, Peter Johnstone’s new all-star organ jazz quartet whirled through an ambitious programme with total commitment, dexterity and huge musicality. This is exhilarating music in all senses of the word – breathtaking, exciting and life-affirming. Over [...]
Arranger, pianist and composer Geoffrey Keezer’s short visit to Scotland concluded with this sensational show with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO). The mix of rich orchestrations, ensemble playing and top-class soloing had the audience on their feet. Geoffrey Keezer [...]
Pianist Geoffrey Keezer joins the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra for three concerts under the banner of “The Art of Arranging” in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh from Friday 29th September to Sunday 1st October. The Wisconsin-born musician Geoffrey Keezer has a [...]
Scottish keyboardist Peter Johnstone has picked a dream team of world class jazz talents for his upcoming tour and recording. Currently best known as the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra’s regular pianist, Peter Johnstone will be focusing on Hammond organ in [...]
Luminescence is a collaboration between the visual artist Maria Rud and saxophonist Tommy Smith that is running in the historic St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh as part of the Edinburgh Fringe. Maria Rud was born in Moscow. She grew [...]
Louise Dodds and Elchin Shirinov brought their Two Hours After Midnight album to a rapt Edinburgh Festival Fringe audience, combining beautiful vocals and shimmering piano arrangements to re-present classic Scots folk songs. Louise Dodds’ star continues to rise on the [...]
Danish saxophonist Michael Blicher and Hammond organist Dan Hemmer and legendary US drummer Steve Gadd form the soul-jazz trio Blicher Hemmer Gadd. The group has added a second Glasgow date to a short UK visit in early September. Steve Gadd, [...]
The Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival put on over 110 concerts across ten days, requiring careful planning to see as much as possible. Clashes were inevitable, with the occasional bag of chips grabbed while hurrying between venues to provide necessary [...]
