DOM PIPKIN & THE IKO'S

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Dom Pipkin and the Ikos

Piano virtuoso Dom Pipkin is one of Europe’s top exponents of New Orleans rhythm and blues. Pipkin breathes new life into the classic funk sounds of The Meters, Dr John, Fats Domino and Professor Longhair, with these influences emerging in his own irresistible song writing. His classical and sometimes rhapsodic influences are married with a tough approach to the blues and driving left hand rhythms.

Pipkin's band the Ikos, takes these New Orleans influences and fleshes them out with drums, harmonies and wailing sax and has been resident at Ronnie Scott's London and around the RnB club scene where its reputation as a top level live act is second to none. Pipkin delivers the most authentic and compelling take on this highly infectious and life affirming blend of blues, gospel, street and jazz that is uniquely New Orleans, with a stellar list of international festivals and radio and TV appearances and fans ranging from Jonathan Ross, Hugh Laurie, David Arnold, and Jamie Cullum.

Starting off as keyboard player to the award-winning Errol Linton band, Pipkin has travelled the world on keyboards with trip-hop pioneers Morcheeba, he was Musical Director for Paloma Faith, and has played for Paul Weller, Laura Mvula, Ray Davies, Pee Wee Ellis and John Newman to name a few, but has always kept a close connection to his second home, New Orleans. A regular visitor to the Crescent City for 18 years, he has performed at the Jazz and Heritage Festival, at the world famous New Orleans “Piano Night”, and alongside its musical legends Allen Toussaint, Lilian Boutte, Jon Cleary, Ellis Marsalis and Marcia Ball. He has supported Dr John, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and the Blind Boys of Alabama, and performed for film director Stanley Kubrik.

On screen, Pipkin stars in the new Netflix thriller, Black Doves (5 Dec 2024), and A Thousand Blows by the creators of Peaky Blinders (released Feb 21 2025), and can be seen jamming boogie-woogie with king of Kpop star Jay Chou in the latest Rimowa commercial.

Pipkin’s piano skills have taken him all over America and Europe, and in 2024 he headlined the Steinway 2-Piano Festival in London. The Ikos are currently completing their second studio album, due for release this summer 2025, unveiling a more deeply voodoo and funky sound for the band. The first single ‘Heading South’ is out now on all platforms.

Personnel

Dom Pipkin: Piano, Keyboards, Organ
Jimmy Norden: Drums
Bass: Michael Searl
Matt King Smith: Guitar
Mirco Altenbach: Saxophone
Trevor Walker: Trumpet

PRESS QUOTES

“When Dom plays the piano magic happens” – Paloma Faith

“one of the worlds’s finest exponents of the music of New Orleans…. a true piano talent” Blues In Britain magazine

“A great piano player” Andy Kershaw

“Dom Pipkin flails the organ to within a millimetre of Jimmy Smith and
just dig that almighty piano.”
Straight No Chaser magazine (Max Reinhardt)

“A genius” James Bond composer, David Arnold

“I can’t hold a candle to this guy. He’s a great piano player”
Jamie Cullum, live on Radio 2

“I really love your stuff. I hope we play together again soon!”
(Grammy and W.C Handy award nominated) Eric Bibb

“Quite the revelation! ..Lighting up the British blues and RnB scene at the moment, very very good indeed. A fine band!” Paul Jones (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band), BBC Radio 2

“Love your piano playing” Paul Weller

“I love your band! You get me singing and dancing”
Paul Sanchez, multiple award-winning New Orleans songwriter/ artist

“Dom brings the whole New Orleans thing to the UK. So good!”
Zigaboo Modeliste of international supergroup The Meters and
godfather of New Orleans funk drumming”

“Have you heard this guy play James Booker?”
Tom McDermott, New Orleans piano star

“Simply amazing” London Culture Club