Simon Spillett

Event information

Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards), big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist, Social Media commentator and latterly blogger. However, for all these varied skills he identifies most strongly as a powerfully swinging, straight-ahead tenor saxophonist, one capable of taking the audiences who hear him on a roller-coaster ride encompassing everything from energetic bebop and heartfelt balladry. And it’s in this guise that he’s become a solid fixture on the UK jazz landscape, regularly playing sold-out gigs at major festivals (Birmingham, Brecon, Swanage, Southport etc.) and world famous club venues (Ronnie Scott’s).

A charismatic performer, gifted with a dry observational wit, he’s never lost sight of the fact that jazz is entertainment as much as art and whether playing, writing or articulately holding forth on his favourite subject – UK jazz history – he’s an infectiously passionate communicator.

For this concert Simon shares the stage with Pete Billington, Alec Dankworth, and Pete Cater.