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. Equally comfortable in a variety of 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 embrace complexity in rhythm and texture, Shankland sings freely with the piano as his voice.
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.
‘He is the perfect all-round musician, thoroughly grounded in the history and feel of jazz.’
- John Turville, Jazz Pianist
During his own studies at Birmingham Conservatoire and Jazz-Institut Berlin, he benefited from the guidance of Percy Pursglove, John Turville and Jean Toussaint, among others. He graduated in 2026, receiving both the Richard Tandy Memorial Prize and the Jazz Department Performance Prize in recognition of his achievements.
Alongside his primary focus on improvised music, Ben continues to perform and compose 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 performances of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra and Seonaid Aitken. 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.
Bio
'Easeful harmonising and sureness of touch leave one eager to hear more from Shankland in the future'
- Scottish Jazz Space
Currently, he regularly tours with his trio, exploring his original compositions with Ewan Hastie and Jonathan Silk. Additionally, he is active as a solo pianist and in various duo combinations, having performed with vocalists Lucy-Anne Daniels and Sylvie Noble, saxophonist Harben Kay, and pianist Fergus McCreadie.
He has featured at numerous jazz festivals in the UK and abroad, including Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Birmingham, and played opening sets for artists like Jason Palmer, Mark Turner, Pablo Held and Jason Rebello.
A strong believer in the importance and transformative power of mentorship, Shankland is an active and dedicated educator. He has led collaborative projects and masterclasses at the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews, and is an ensemble and piano tutor in the Junior Department of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
