Stamford Jazz is delighted to welcome back tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett. Expertly accompanied by a trio of musicians familiar to the Stamford Arts Centre audiences, including bassist Martyn Spencer, pianist Matthew Ratcliffe and host/drummer Andrew 'Woody' Wood. This is guaranteed to be a special evening of top quality, straight ahead swinging jazz. 

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.

"Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb" - The Guardian