BEN SHANKLAND jazz pianoPart of the 7 Star Arts residency |
Monday 24 March 2025Doors: 6.30pm
Concert: 7.30pm (approx. 90 min, including one interval) Meet the artist in the bar after the performance Tickets: £25 |
7 Star Arts proudly presents Ben Shankland - jazz pianist and composer, winner of BBC Radio Scotland Jazz Musician of the Year 2023.
‘He is the perfect all-round musician, thoroughly grounded in the history and feel of jazz.’ |
‘Shankland’s playing combines lyricism with drive and precision, as well as a penchant for melody’ |
Ben Shankland
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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. 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.
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. 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. With the later addition of his discovery 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. He has featured at numerous UK jazz festivals, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Birmingham, has also worked in a duo collaboration with vocalist Lucy-Anne Daniels, and played opening sets for pianists Pablo Held and Jason Rebello. 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. |
‘An outstanding solo piano performance by Ben Shankland, playing with flair and finesse’
- Edinburgh Guide
Proudly presented by 7 Star Arts supporting the ENO Benevolent Fund
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7 Star Arts presents a diverse range of unique and original productions from the intimate life stories of the great composers to dazzling cutting edge musicians of the younger generation.
7 Star Arts’ popular mixed-genre concerts combine music, words and art to create intriguing and engaging aural and visual experiences. |
"When I was diagnosed with leukaemia life suddenly became fragile and scary, not just for me but for my family. When we needed it most the ENO Benevolent Fund stepped in, giving us help and support so I could concentrate on recovery. I'm now back at work and I've just celebrated 25 years at ENO. Thank you." |
When the music stops...Everyone who attends English National Opera (ENO) will experience the thrill of being transported by a live performance that lingers long in the memory. At ENO a hugely gifted ensemble on stage, in the pit and behind the scenes, contributes a wide range of skills to the audience's total enjoyment. But what happens when life suddenly changes through illness or accident and a performer or technician loses the ability to earn a living? At a stroke this person faces an uncomfortable reminder of how precarious a profession opera can be.
This is where the ENO Benevolent Fund, a registered charity first established almost 60 years ago, can make a significant difference. The Fund aims to alleviate hardship wherever it can in the form of a grant or loan. This may involve tiding a person (and sometimes his or her dependants) over a difficult patch, or providing longer-term support. Beneficiaries may include singers with throat and chest problems, musicians afflicted by loss of sight or hearing, wig and wardrobe technicians whose eyes or fingers are no longer up to the job, or any of the dedicated team which unites to make the Company what it is. Sometimes a one-off grant is given for a piece of equipment to help overcome a disability, or a loan to secure immediate medical advice or treatment. The Trustees who administer the Fund consider each case with great care. |