Perspective – band members

Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, John Elliott is a versatile jazz musician, author, and teacher, with decades of experience in performance and composition. A passionate advocate for jazz, John blends tradition with innovation, creating music that resonates with contemporary audiences.

John’s journey into jazz began during his school years, where he led a traditional jazz band on trumpet, performed in a local big band, and explored arranging. His dedication to the craft flourished throughout university and into the 1980s and 90s, during which he led various ensembles, including a jazz octet for which he composed and arranged.

Currently, John performs regularly in Edinburgh with the acclaimed Jazz Bar Big Band and his own trio, captivating audiences with his dynamic performances and thoughtful interpretations. His latest venture, Perspective, is a contemporary jazz group in collaboration with guitarist Ged Brockie. Together, they showcase original compositions alongside hidden gems from the modern jazz repertoire.

John is also deeply committed to education and the written word. As a freelance teacher and author, he shares his knowledge and passion for jazz with students and readers alike. Discover more about John and his work at www.dropback.co.uk.

Ged has had a career of nearly forty years that has spanned perfomance, recording, composition, tuition, music publishing and music industry.

Performance has included playing with the RSNO (Royal Scottish National Orchestra), The Orchestra of Scottish Opera, BBC Big Band, under the baton of Carl Davis as well as collaberating with double Emmy award winning Hollywood composer Hummie Mann in many musical scenarios. He has recorded and toured extensively with three solo band albums, four SGQ releases and numerous other recordings for various artists as well as performing in BBC radio and independent TV productions.

Ged was one of the main composers for the group SGQ (Scottish Guitar Quartet) notably described as “a national treasure” and toured extensively with the band across the UK, Ireland and Europe.

Ged has performed at Celtic Connections, Wavendon Stables, The Vortex Jazz Club, numerous major musical festivals and music industry events in London and beyond. He has worked extensively in musical theatre as well as performing all genres of music from concert to corporate, solo to large ensemble as a guitar player.

With regards composition, he was commissioned to write a seven minute piece for the Scottish Parliament and other works in the parliament as well as writing for various feature film and media projects across TV and online.

As an author his guitar books have sold by the thousands worldwide in more than 20 countries and he runs a growing publishing entity named GMI – Guitar & Music Institute which also highlightes authors from around the world.

Ged created the only accredited Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) jazz guitar HND as well as working for the SQA creating music exams and sample ready orchestral recordings. He has taught on the BA (Hons) in Popular Music at Napier University for more than fifteen years teaching both guitar, ensemble and previously writing to picture.