Winner of BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year and two time Scottish Jazz Award nominee, Edinburgh-born pianist and composer Ben Shankland is swiftly gaining recognition on the UK jazz scene, despite his young age. Now spending a year in Germany at Jazz-Institut Berlin, he is equally comfortable in various settings, from large ensembles to solo piano, and his combination of 'lyricism with drive and precision’ (The Scotsman) has garnered praise from audiences and critics alike.

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Shankland’s music is born of a clear reverence for the jazz tradition and lineage, but with unmistakable personality in every phrase. Always driven by melody, yet never afraid to explore complexity in rhythm and texture, Shankland sings freely with the piano as his voice. 

 

Unapologetically playful and willing to chase after every idea, he conjures new sound worlds from any impetus. This, combined with an unwavering passion for craft and pursuit of instrumental mastery, allows the music to bring the thoughts of an unbridled imagination to audiences with definition and form.

 

Before even discovering jazz, Shankland’s life was already filled with an eclectic mix of sounds: the harmony of the choral music his father directed, the groove-driven 80s pop loved by his mother, the textures of classical repertoire in early piano lessons and orchestral  bassoon playing. With the later addition of his discovery of sounds spanning the entire spectrum of improvised music, his writing forms connections between diverse styles, resulting in music that is a genuine reflection of an individual spirit and in constant evolution.

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In his development he is grateful to have benefitted from the mentorship of pianists John Turville and Alan Benzie, as well as horn players Percy Pursglove, Tommy Smith and Mike Williams. Currently, he regularly performs with his trio, exploring his original compositions with Ewan Hastie and Chun-Wei Kang. Additionally, he is active as a solo pianist and in various duo combinations, an interest that developed from his classical background and the study of masters such as Fred Hersch, Sullivan Fortner, and Earl Hines. Besides leading his projects, Ben is in demand as a sideman performing and recording with various bands, alongside both up-and-coming and well-established musicians.

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He has featured at numerous UK jazz festivals, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Birmingham, and recently collaborated on a special project with the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival, where his trio was joined by guests Helena Kay and Ben MacDonald to play his music as a quintet, resulting in a sold-out show. He has also worked in a duo collaboration with vocalist Lucy-Anne Daniels, and played opening sets for pianists Pablo Held and Jason Rebello.

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Alongside his primary focus on improvised music, Ben continues to perform in the classical world. Notably, he has collaborated with BBC Young Musician 2022 percussionist Jordan Ashman in an award-winning recital and served as the soloist in three performances of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. His ability to engage and connect with audiences at such a young age truly sets him apart as a talent to watch in the coming years.