Hilary Seabrook - writer, podcaster, musician

When jazz pianist Brian Kellock died recently, London’s 606 Club initially cancelled the night where he was due to perform just a couple of weeks later. There’s a memorial concert planned in the autumn, but the night that Brian was scheduled to appear instead because something of a celebration of his music with some of his fellow Scots. Fraser Urquhart (piano), Calum Gourlay (bass) and Corrie Dick (drums) were joined by trumpeter Bruce Adams and the irrepressible Jim Mullen on guitar. @HilarySWriter The music was just wonderful as the quintet, who had never performed together before, filled the 606 with a selection of standards that would have made Brian Kellock smile. Everything from The Way You Look Tonight  and Shiny Stockings to What is This Thing Called Love?  and Cotton Tail  but with some personal features that really showed what this extraordinary group of musicians is capable of. Fraser Urquhart’s piano is always understated and he is often heard alongside ...

This was not the gig I was expecting, but it was amazing and full of truly beautiful music played by a stunning quartet who had never so much as soundchecked together! Elina Duni stepped in at the last minute when the billed singer - Vidya, who I wrote about almost exactly a year ago - was sadly taken ill. 06062025 Elina Duni @hilaryswriter Joined by Vidya’s original band - Rob Luft (guitar), Mirko Scarcia (bass) and Corrie Dick (drums) - Elina performed an eclectic collection of originals, arrangements and standards. The band came together in a way that seemed more effortless than it probably was in reality. Luft and Dick are frequent band mates, often with Duni herself, but this was the first time this quartet had appeared on stage and the sound was just beautiful. Duni has an international background and career, so there were songs from Albania, the Balkans, Brazil, Italy and the great American songbook, but they were all arranged to show the very best of these accomplished musici...