Multi award-winning tenor saxophonist, Simon Spillett honours the genius of Tubby Hayes.
None has been more inspired by Hayes than Simon Spillett, multi award-winning tenor saxophonist (BBC Jazz Awards, British Jazz Awards, Jazz Journal’s Album of The Year) and author of the definitive Tubby biography, The Long Shadow of the Little Giant. Together with his quartet, he has put together this celebration of the genius of Tubbs, featuring compositions and arrangements from Hayes albums The Jazz Couriers In Concert, Tubbs in New York and Mexican Green.
Over his twenty-five year career Simon Spillett has worn almost as many hats as it’s possible to wear within jazz; instrumentalist, quartet and 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 to heartfelt balladry.
“Straight-ahead, high energy jazz is his line and he does it with aplomb”
The Guardian