Over his 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 draw across the UK jazz landscape, regularly playing major festivals (London, Birmingham, Brecon, Swanage, Scarborough 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, heard in no better setting than his regular quartet featuring celebrated British jazz luminaries Ron Barron (piano), Alec Dankworth (bass) and Pete Cater (drums), a band which has already notched up a string of sold out festival and club appearances throughout the UK.

Image: Michael Anderson/Broadhouse Media