"Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb"
The Guardian
Over a career stretching 25 years, multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal's Album of The Year) tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett has cultivated a unique persona within British jazz.
Leading both his own quartet and big band, and inspired by the classic Brit-bop of the 1950s and 1960s, his is a powerfully passionate style, its emphasis on straight-ahead jazz delighting audiences who like their music hard swinging, heartfelt and entertaining.
Popular across the entire spectrum of the UK scene, from Ronnie Scott’s club to major festivals (the EFG London Jazz Festival), Simon’s communicative performances are a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from high energy bebop to lyrical balladry, the whole tied together by his signature dryly witty stage presence.
And he’s not only a gifted instrumentalist and band leader; he’s also become a champion of the music in all manner of ways, including writing a major biography of legendary British saxophonist Tubby Hayes (The Long Shadow of The Little Giant), penning hundreds of accompanying notes for vintage album reissues, contributing essays to many jazz periodicals and latterly becoming the go-to expert of UK post-war history.
He has recorded four highly-regarded albums, the latest of which, Dear Tubby H., garnered a prestigious five star review in Jazzwise magazine.
Line-up will be:-
Simon Spillett (tenor sax)
Pete Billington (piano)
Alec Dankworth (bass)
Pete Cater (drums)
