Jazz fans in Glasgow tomorrow face a tough decision: whether to go and hear Brian Kellock at Platform in Easterhouse, or whether to go and hear Alister Spence at the Glasgow Art Club in the city centre.

Kellock’s gig, with Kenny Ellis on bass and Stu Ritchie on drums, was supposed to be part of the launch tour for his new CD. However, the CD’s been delayed. But it looks as if this is for the best possible reason. An interview with Thick-Skinned Records director Cathie Rae in the Scotsman last week revealed that

Kellock, a pianist of international stature, recorded his album under the working title of Think About It at the same studio over a year ago but the recording has now attracted interest from some larger labels, who are now indeed thinking about it….

“Because Thick-Skinned is a really small label,” says Cathie, “and we believe Brian deserves a much wider audience, I can’t really say who just now but a couple of other labels are interested. It’ll be worth waiting for.”

So no new album just yet, just the prospect of an evening of swinging inventive jazz from one of the UK’s best pianists.

Cathie Rae and Graeme Stephen open the show, which starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 or £6 concessions.

Alister Spence is much less well-known in the UK, but is one of Australia’s top pianists. The presence of Raymond MacDonald on saxophones, and the promoter’s description of the music as “cutting-edge jazz-improv” suggests that the music will probably be from the contemporary end of the spectrum. The band is completed by bass player Joe Williamson and drummer Christopher Cantillo. The concert starts at 8pm and admission is £8 or £6 concession.

Spence and MacDonald are also playing a lunchtime duo gig at the Glasgow University Concert Hall from 1.10pm to 2.00pm.

They also made an appearance on tonight’s edition of “The Jazz House” – the Alister Spence track they played sounded fascinating, with the basic sound of the trio being fed through lots of electronics. Here’s some footage of the Alister Spence Trio from the 2009 Vilnius Jazz Festival which might give you some idea of what to expect:

Finally, if you’re through in Edinburgh on Thursday or Friday, Head2Head, a reincarnation of late 70s/80s jazz-rock band Head, are playing at the Jazz Bar in Chambers Street.