We are very sad to hear of the death yesterday, 27 May 2025, of the very great Scottish pianist, a central and hugely influential figure on the Scottish scene for decades, Brian Kellock. We will have tributes in due course. In sadness,
Phil Johnson: Very shocked and saddened to learn of Brian’s death. He was a monster of a player , absolutely one of the best pianists and accompanists in the world. Although I only knew him through booking him at St George’s in Bristol , he was always a delight to talk to, with huge intelligence about jazz and a very dry wit.
I remember way back in the 90s when he helmed the late night jam sessions band at the Marriott for the Glasgow Jazz Festival, and his masterful command of every idiom made the whole show swing. Later his duo concerts with Tommy Smith made for some of my all-time favourite gigs. What a loss.
Fraser Urquhart: At this horribly sad time I’ve tried to consider what it is that made Brian’s music so singular and special. I think our friend Ed Kelly had it right: he’s a unique stylist. He never really seemed to play like the people we all listen to. He had this own vibe. It was witty and alive. You were always able to hear glimpses of what he loved that had stuck on him : the drama he got from Monty Alexander and Oscar Peterson for instance; some of that offbeat, free edginess from Jaki Byard and the pianist we always liked to discuss – Jimmy Rowles. He knew how to shape a song into something unusual , something that no one had ever heard before – every single time something new. He took chances on every chorus. The sound of surprise . The spirit of jazz.
His live performances were exciting and his inner fires seemed to come out in a driving , all-guns-blazing approach , sometimes as fits of pianistic abandon , with fists, flailing limbs, and then, often, a complete out-pouring of his soul into a ballad from a movie musical which you just knew he knew all the words to, or most of them . He’s made us all cry out in disbelief at the sound of surprise. And he’s made us all cry out for something lost from that longing sound he had at certain tempos. But no matter what , where or how, he was always a unique stylist, doing his thing his way. A living embodiment of the spirit of jazz. (Extract from a longer tribute HERE, reproduced with permission).
Cathrine Legardh: Brian was a dear friend of mine for more than two decades. We recorded albums, traveled and toured (Denmark, Norway, UK, China eg). He was a highly gifted soul – incredibly talented and also very poetic. Perhaps that is why he had a rare ability to accompany a singer. He loved the words and a proper storytelling. It felt as if he could magically feel every little breath or sigh or vocal fluctuation that was coming, almost as if he had a set of extra sensors on his back. As a person and friend he was so incredibly humble, loyal, generous, warm and funny. He loved Copenhagen and Copenhagen loved him. What a great loss for the jazz scene and audience. My warmest condolences to everyone / all of us who loved him.
See also tributes from Tommy Smith, Susan Tomes, Rob Adams
3 responses
A terrible loss for the Scottish and UK jazz scene. Brian was such a consummate stylist, switching from bop to stride to impressionist to rhythm machine in an instant. We will mourn his passing at the upcoming Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, at which he was slated to perform a number of times in different settings. RIP.
One of the greats of British jazz, his style, versatility and virtuosity could silence a noisy room after the opening line of any tune. Brian was not only a wonderful soloist, but he had a rare talent as an accompanyist – making even average singers sound natural and sweet.
Brian could emulate Fats Waller, Count Basie and numerous other pianists, but he always kept his own style. He was at home with an intimate group, or playing in a duo at the Shore Bar in Leith with bassist Kenny Ellis, a regular treat for fans on a Sunday lunchtime, or appearing on a Monday night with the Jazz Bar Big Band. Brian was a big guy, in every sense of the word, and Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland and the world just won’t be the same without him!
So sad, he was a jazz giant. Always creative, always melodic, always rhythmic. I greatly looked forward to his shows. A huge loss to jazz piano