EJBF 2026 Brian Kellock: A Life in Music Queen's Hall Edinburgh 23 July Review
Brian Kellock: A Life in Music at the Queen's Hall Edinburgh tonight was a special show that quite rightly had its place at this year’s Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival.
When it was sadly announced last year that jazz pianist, Brian Kellock, had died on 25th May (aged 62), there was some shock and maybe some disbelief that not only Scotland, but Jazz music, and music in a far broader spectrum had lost a very special talent.
Over my years of reviewing live music I have seen Brian Kellock perform with a diverse collective of musicians in venues both large and small; tonight old friends and musical colleagues came to pay their respects to him in the only way really possible, through the music that he loved so much.
Tonight, a very special band line up included the core rhythm section of David Newton (piano and musical director), Dave Green (bass) and Max Popp (drums). Augmenting this band were Liane Carroll (vocals), Scott Hamilton and Alan Barnes (saxophones), and Warren Vaché (trumpet). This was a line up of musicians that obviously please so many members of this audience tonight. Long time musical collaborator with Brian Kellock, Kenny Ellis, was also performing on double bass for the opening number of this show.
Music performed in this show included "Drop Me off In Harlem", "You've Changed", or a very special version of "After You've Gone". There was always this atmosphere of warmth and just the pleasure of musicians performing music with each other and sharing that with their audience. The opening of the second half of this show brought us all up to date too with a performance by one of the brightest talents of contemporary jazz music, pianist Fergus McCreadie.
For myself though, I would have liked more shared memories from everyone on stage of working with Brian Kellock over the years, more personal insight into the man himself. More contemporary musicians to add their voices and music would have been nice too, as Brian Kellock's influence on jazz music over the past 40 years working both with well-established and new musical talent cannot be over-estimated.
Review (c) 2026 by Tom King
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Please note that unless requested by performers/pr/venues that this website no longer uses the "star rating" system on reviews.
When it was sadly announced last year that jazz pianist, Brian Kellock, had died on 25th May (aged 62), there was some shock and maybe some disbelief that not only Scotland, but Jazz music, and music in a far broader spectrum had lost a very special talent.
Over my years of reviewing live music I have seen Brian Kellock perform with a diverse collective of musicians in venues both large and small; tonight old friends and musical colleagues came to pay their respects to him in the only way really possible, through the music that he loved so much.
Tonight, a very special band line up included the core rhythm section of David Newton (piano and musical director), Dave Green (bass) and Max Popp (drums). Augmenting this band were Liane Carroll (vocals), Scott Hamilton and Alan Barnes (saxophones), and Warren Vaché (trumpet). This was a line up of musicians that obviously please so many members of this audience tonight. Long time musical collaborator with Brian Kellock, Kenny Ellis, was also performing on double bass for the opening number of this show.
Music performed in this show included "Drop Me off In Harlem", "You've Changed", or a very special version of "After You've Gone". There was always this atmosphere of warmth and just the pleasure of musicians performing music with each other and sharing that with their audience. The opening of the second half of this show brought us all up to date too with a performance by one of the brightest talents of contemporary jazz music, pianist Fergus McCreadie.
For myself though, I would have liked more shared memories from everyone on stage of working with Brian Kellock over the years, more personal insight into the man himself. More contemporary musicians to add their voices and music would have been nice too, as Brian Kellock's influence on jazz music over the past 40 years working both with well-established and new musical talent cannot be over-estimated.
Review (c) 2026 by Tom King
www.artsreviewsedinburgh.com
Please note that unless requested by performers/pr/venues that this website no longer uses the "star rating" system on reviews.