Brian Kellock (28 December 1962 – 27 May 2025) was a Scottish
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
pianist.
Biography
Born in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...
, on 28 December 1962, Kellock graduated with a B Music (Hons) from the
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...
in 1986. He then established his position as one of the top piano players in the UK jazz scene, working with
Herb Geller
Herbert Arnold Geller (November 2, 1928 – December 19, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and arranger. He was born in Los Angeles.
Early life
His mother, Frances ''(née'' Frances Mildred Fullman, also known as Fannie Fullman; ...
,
Sheila Jordan
Sheila Jordan (born Sheila Jeanette Dawson; November 18, 1928) is an American jazz singer and songwriter. She has recorded as a session musician with an array of critically acclaimed artists in addition to recording her own albums. Jordan pionee ...
, and
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart Farmer (August 21, 1928 – October 4, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet–flugelhorn combination especially designed for him. He and his identical twin brother, doub ...
.
From 1995, Kellock was a member of Australian trumpeter James Morrison's Band.
His main project was his own Trio, which first appeared as the rhythm section for seminal Scottish band, the John Rae Collective, since 1988. This line-up, featuring Kenny Ellis on bass and John Rae on drums, was performing together ever since. In 1998, the band released their first recording together – ''Something's Got To Give'' – a set of standards popularised by
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire (born Frederick Austerlitz, May 10, 1899 – June 22, 1987) was an American dancer, actor, singer, musician, choreographer, and presenter, whose career in stage, film, and television spanned 76 years. He is widely regarded as the "g ...
.
Some of Kellock's popular songs played include: "You Must Believe in Spring", "
Rhapsody in Blue
''Rhapsody in Blue'' is a 1924 musical composition for solo piano and jazz band by George Gershwin. Commissioned by bandleader Paul Whiteman, the work combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects and premiered in a concer ...
", "
The Way You Look Tonight
"The Way You Look To-night" is a song from the film '' Swing Time'' that was performed by Fred Astaire and composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics written by Dorothy Fields. It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1936. Fields remarked, ...
", "
Tokyo Express
The Tokyo Express was the name given by Allied forces to the use of Imperial Japanese Navy ships at night to deliver personnel, supplies, and equipment to Japanese forces operating in and around New Guinea and the Solomon Islands during the ...
", "
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
"Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as simply "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945 in Hollywood, California, during a heatwave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions. ...
Young and Foolish
"Young and Foolish" is a popular song with music by Albert Hague and lyrics by Arnold B. Horwitt, published in 1954.
The song was introduced in the musical '' Plain and Fancy'' (1955–56), and has been recorded by many singers since.
Rec ...
* John Rae – ''Where The Wild Clematis Grow''
** John Rae: Drums
**Brian Kellock: Piano
** Patrick Bleakley: Bass
**Recorded 2020 – Thick Records NZ
*''John Rae's Celtic Feet''
** John Rae: Drums
**
Eilidh Shaw
Eilidh Shaw is a Scottish fiddle player and singer. She has performed with The Poozies, Harem Scarem (folk band), Harem Scarem and recorded a solo album, ''Heepirumbo'', in 1997. Her brother Donald Shaw (musician), Donald Shaw was a founding me ...
: Fiddle
**
Simon Thoumire
Simon Thoumire is a Scottish musician and an English concertina virtuoso.
Thoumire has played all over the world. A winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition Award in 1989,Phil Bancroft: Sax
**Brian Kellock: Piano
** Mario Caribé: Bass
**Recorded 1999 – Caber 010
* Sylvia Rae – ''Close Enough''
**Sylvia Rae: Vocals
**Brian Kellock: Piano
** Warren Vaché: Trumpet
** Kenny Ellis: Bass
** Ronnie Rae: Bass (Tk3)
**John Rae: Drums
**Recorded 2002 – VocalbA vocl 001 (from caber music)
* Hue & Cry – ''jazznotjazz''
**
Michael Brecker
Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as a performer and composer, received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in ...
: Tenor Sax
**
Mike Stern
Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, re ...
: Guitar
**
Randy Brecker
Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B.
Early life
Brecker was ...
: Trumpet
**Tommy Smith: Tenor Sax
**
Danny Gottlieb
Daniel Richard Gottlieb (born April 18, 1953) is an American drummer. He was a founding member of the Pat Metheny Group and was co-founder of Elements with Mark Egan.
Biography
Gottlieb was born in New York City on April 18, 1953. He took lesso ...
: Drums
**Brian Kellock: Piano
**Recorded 1996 –
Linn Records
Linn Records is a Glasgow-based record label which specialises in classical music, jazz and Scottish music. It is part of Linn Products.
History
While Linn engineers were testing their flagship product, the Sondek LP12 turntable, they became fr ...
AKD 057
*
Spike Robinson
Henry Bertholf "Spike" Robinson (January 16, 1930 – October 29, 2001) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. He began playing at age twelve, recording on several labels, including Discovery, Hep and Concord. However, he sought an engineering ...
– ''Stairway To The Stars''
**Spike Robinson – Tenor Saxophone
**Brian Kellock – Piano
**Ronnie Rae – String Bass
**John Rae – Drums
**Recorded at the
Queen's Hall
The Queen's Hall was a concert hall in Langham Place, London, Langham Place, London, opened in 1893. Designed by the architect Thomas Knightley, it had room for an audience of about 2,500 people. It became London's principal concert venue. Fro ...
, Edinburgh 1990 – HEP Jazz – HEP CD 2049
* Janusz Carmello – ''Portrait''
**Janusz Carmello: Trumpet & Pocket Trumpet
**Brian Kellock: Piano
**John Hartley: String Bass
** Tony McLennan: Drums
**Jimmy Wood: Alto Sax
** Phil Bancroft: Tenor Sax
** Gordon Cruickshank: Bar Sax
** Keith Hutton: Trombone
**Recorded 1989 HEP Records – HEP CD 2044
* Nigel Clark Quintet – ''Worldwide Sound''
**Nigel Clark: Guitars
**
Tim Garland
Tim Garland (born 19 October 1966) is a British jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. His compositions draw from modern jazz and classical concert music.
Career
Garland was born in Ilford, Essex and grew up in Canterbury, Kent. He starte ...
: Saxophones
**Brian Kellock: Piano/Keyboards
** Ewen Vernel: Bass
**Mike Bradley: Drums
**Recorded 1996 Sienna Records SNA 1001
*
Tam White
Thomas Bennett Sim "Tam" White (12 July 1942 – 21 June 2010) was a Scottish musician, stonemason and actor.
Biography
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, White was primarily known as a blues vocalist with a trademark gravelly voice. In the 1960s he ...
/
Boz Burrell
Raymond "Boz" Burrell (1 August 1946 – 21 September 2006) was an English musician. Originally a vocalist and guitarist, Burrell is best known for being the vocalist and bassist of King Crimson from 1971 to 1972 and the original bassist of B ...
Alec Phillips
Alec or Aleck is a Scottish form of the given name Alex. It may be a shortened form of the name Alexander or a given name in its own right. Notable people with the name include:
People
* Alec Aalto (1942–2018), Finnish diplomat
* Alec Acto ...
: Trombone
**Recorded 2000 Catalyst Records CD2002.