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’s trio is swiftly gaining recognition on the UK jazz scene. Combining an ever-expanding catalogue of original music with carefully selected and arranged renditions of classics,  his combination of 'lyricism with drive and precision’ (The Scotsman) has garnered praise from audiences and critics alike.

 

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. 

 

The trio are unapologetically playful and willing to chase after every idea, conjuring new sound worlds from any impetus. This, combined with an unwavering passion for craft and pursuit of instrumental mastery, allows the music to bring 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.

 

Joining Shankland on bass is BBC Young Jazz Musician of The Year 2022 winner Ewan Hastie, and on drums Scottish Jazz Award nominee Chun-Wei Kang, with the pair's creative musical communication further defining the group's distinctive sound.

 

Notable recent performances include a sold-out concert at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival where the trio were joined by guests Helena Kay and Ben MacDonald, and on separate occasions supporting major pianists Pablo Held and Jason Rebello at Eastside Jazz Club Birmingham.

The trio has given highly acclaimed performances around the country and their ability to engage and entertain is sure to resonate with audiences everywhere. Driven by a desire to share experiences, emotions and to find connections, the trio invites you in to be a part of their musical community.