THREE pianists who between them have worked with Ray Charles, Van Morrison and Glasgow’s own jazz singing star Carol Kidd have joined forces for a one-time only concert.

Steve Hamilton, Paul Harrison and Tom Gibbs answered the call from saxophonist Paul Towndrow to present a Piano Summit at The Merchants House of Glasgow’s Grand Hall this Sunday.

It forms part of a series of concerts that Towndrow is organising for The Merchants House in support of its Social Impact Partnership, which aims to help the city’s homeless through fundraising and raising awareness of their plight.

Hamilton, who has accompanied Ray Charles and Van Morrison and currently tours the world with jazz drumming superstar Billy Cobham’s band, said: “I checked my diary when Paul Towndrow called and immediately agreed to do the concert.

"It’s not often that Paul Harrison, Tom Gibbs and myself are available altogether on the same night, so it’s likely to be a unique concert bill that will show The Merchants House piano off in quite a good light as well as help a good cause.”

Paul Towndrow, himself a widely experienced musician who has played with soul stars Ben E. King and Martha Reeves, came up with the idea to stage a series of concerts after visiting The Merchants House’s Grand Hall and being impressed with its Victorian grandeur.

He said: "It’s a fantastic setting with a great acoustic, as well as a first-class piano, and I thought more people should be aware of this facility right in the heart of the city.

"Fortunately, The Merchants House authorities agreed and we are having monthly concerts until June at least that follow in the footsteps of Frederic Chopin, no less, who gave a recital in the previous Merchants House in 1848.”

Sunday’s concert is the second in a series that will feature much-decorated poet and guitarist Don Paterson’s group (April 15), saxophonist Konrad Wisniewski and pianist Euan Stevenson’s New Focus Quartet (May 13) and internationally acclaimed saxophone-piano duo Tommy Smith and Brian Kellock (June 17).