Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it’s possible to wear within jazz; multi-award-winning instrumentalist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal’s Album of The Year), quartet and big band leader, recording artist, author, historian, record producer, archivist, magazine columnist 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 to 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 (EFG London Jazz Festival, Brecon, Swanage, Scarborough, Wigan etc.) and world famous club venues (Ronnie Scott’s).
“Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb”
The Guardian
Lineup
Simon Spillett – Saxophone
Pete Billington – Piano
Alec Dankworth – Bass
Pete Cater – Drums
Part of the outstanding Jazz@TheAlex programme.
