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and others. His musical life began at school, singing in school choirs, while at home he learned a variety of brass instruments including the trombone and valve trombone. Spillett took up the alto saxophone aged 16 and taught himself initially by playing along with records. Aged 17, he switched to
388:. The band quickly became a popular attraction at UK jazz venues including Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club and the Brecon, Marlborough, Swanage, Birmingham, Wigan, Southport and Wavendon festivals. During this period Spillett also worked with English jazz players including Sir
258:, mixing humorous reflections on his experiences as a musician with observations about famous historical jazz figures. He has also acted as a compere at jazz festivals and appears in the anchor interview role in the 2015 documentary film
360:
Spillett began playing gigs aged seventeen with bands playing mainstream jazz. By the age of 21, he had turned professional. During the early 2000s he played gigs with, among others, saxophonists Peter King and
502:' quintets from 1955 to 1965, the band became a popular attraction at UK jazz clubs and festivals and until Critchinson's death in 2017 reformed for various one-off appearances.
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He has also complied and/or written CD sleeve notes for over one hundred albums for a variety of jazz specialist labels. In 2006, he co-authored the autobiography of
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In 2011, Spillett won the tenor saxophone category of the
British Jazz Awards. In 2016, Spillett won the Services To British Jazz Award in the British Jazz Awards.
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50:
30:
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s
Critics' Choice album of the Year (2009), the British Jazz Awards Top Tenor Saxophonist (2011), and Services to British Jazz award (2016).
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774:, a 4-CD compilation of Tubby Hayes work assembled by Spillett for the Properbox label, won Best Reissue in the British Jazz Awards.
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In 2023 Spillett's big band released its debut album 'Dear Tubby H.', featuring previously unheard arrangements by Tubby Hayes.
542:
In 2021, Spillett launched his own big band, debuting at London's 100 Club. The band focuses on the repertoire of Tubby Hayes.
274:, Tony Russell and Ken Wray, Spillett's father Richard worked as a semi-professional musician, playing gigs with saxophonists
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Spillett was the partner of vocalist Tina May for two and a half years from 2019 before May's death, aged 60, in March 2022.
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was released the following March. In
December 2013 this album was voted among the top jazz releases of the year in
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Jazz
Orchestra, and continues to work with the band. With this band, he worked with popular artists including
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among others. At the same time, he began two and a half years of private saxophone tuition with saxophonist
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A love of jazz grew through exposure to his father's record collection and by his teens he was listening to
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72:
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215:
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678:, written by Mark Baxter, directed by Lee Cogswell, produced by Paul Weller and with narration by actor
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599:
In 2007, Spillett recorded two albums' worth of material with tenor saxophonist Danny Moss. Featuring
508:
In
October 2016, Spillett was appointed as a Patron of the Jazz Centre UK, joining fellow patrons Sir
505:
In 2015-16, Spillett was working as a member of Pete Long's Jazz at The
Philharmonic tribute package.
1035:
600:
607:, Danny Moss Junior and Martin Drew, these sessions remain unissued. In 2012, Spillett recorded for
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558:
61:
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In 2013, Spillett was part of the co-operative band 'Standard Miles' also featuring trumpeter
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333:
In his late teens, Spillett began to sit in at local jazz venues, appearing with saxophonists
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died, Rob Barron joined the quartet on piano. Drummer Pete Cater replaced Tracey in 2020.
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781:(Equinox Publishing 2015). This book was nominated among the best music books of 2015 by
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By 2017, he was leading his own quartet featuring pianist John
Critchinson, bassist
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The Long Shadow of The Little Giant - The Life, Work and Legacy of Tubby Hayes
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with his quartet and has featured in several magazine interviews including in
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which received widespread coverage in the jazz media, including airplay on
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498:. Performing the Great American songbook standards performed by various
1015:
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Spillett's primary influence on the tenor saxophone is often cited as
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replacing Drew, which was nominated in the best album category of the
330:. At this time he also played piano, clarinet and soprano saxophone.
454:
Spillett has appeared with
American jazz artists including vocalist
976:"Hats off to Tubby Hayes. A quick conversation with Simon Spillett"
186:
Leading
British jazz figures with whom he has worked include Sir
175:, as well as appearing with bands led by other leaders including
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674:
Spillett is the anchor interviewee in the 2015 documentary film
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60:
from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially
15:
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Spillett has also written a biography of Tubby Hayes, titled
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In 2006, Spillett recorded his first album with his quartet.
252:
From 2016 to 2018 he contributed a regular monthly column to
884:"Simon Spillett: Introducing Simon Spillett album review"
730:
Spillett has contributed articles to magazines including
698:
as his all-time favourite saxophonist. He has also named
909:"Peterborough Jazz Club Autumn and Winter 2008 Concerts"
767:
have commissioned him to write notes for their albums.
592:
won the critics' poll for Best Jazz Album of 2008/9 in
380:
In 2005, Spillett formed a quartet featuring pianist
222:. American musicians with whom he has worked include
625:for Rising Star, accepting his award from actor
821:and Simon Spillett (Avid Records 2007 UNISSUED)
318:tenor saxophone inspired by hearing albums by
535:As of 2020, his quartet features Rob Barron,
8:
859:"Sax player Simon's more than a rising star"
671:magazine during November and December 2012.
667:(April 2008). He took part in "The Test" in
1018:
53:about living persons that is unsourced or
694:, although in interviews he has credited
124:Learn how and when to remove this message
935:"2007 BBC Jazz Awards official Web site"
655:Spillett has broadcast on BBC Radio 3's
580:, was recorded by the same quartet with
849:
759:and musicians including Alan Skidmore,
7:
490:, pianist John Critchinson, bassist
249:, was published by Equinox in 2015.
241:Spillett's biography of saxophonist
1076:21st-century British male musicians
247:The Long Shadow Of The Little Giant
151:tenor saxophonist. He has won the
14:
827:- one track (Specific Jazz 2008)
805:- one track (Specific Jazz 2007)
611:. A limited edition vinyl album
155:Jazz Awards Rising Star (2007),
20:
1:
857:Javin, Val (4 January 2008).
676:Tubby Hayes: A Man In A Hurry
260:Tubby Hayes: A Man In A Hurry
974:Dancing About Architecture.
576:In 2007, a follow-up album,
31:biography of a living person
1081:British male jazz musicians
58:must be removed immediately
1097:
961:"Simon Spillett Interview"
839:- (Mister PC Records 2023)
797:Introducing Simon Spillett
621:In 2007, Spillett won the
555:Introducing Simon Spillett
1071:21st-century saxophonists
1066:British male saxophonists
1061:English jazz saxophonists
439:. In 2007, he joined the
179:'s Jazz Orchestra. After
833:- (Gearbox Records 2013)
811:(Woodville Records 2007)
799:(Woodville Records 2006)
147:, England) is a British
663:(issues 96 and 97) and
633:and appearing with the
569:and on the re-launched
353:, then a member of the
139:(born 4 November 1974,
959:Sussex Jazz Magazine.
137:Simon Richard Spillett
45:Please help by adding
1056:Hard bop saxophonists
1051:Post-bop saxophonists
549:Recordings and awards
915:on 15 September 2014
825:BBC Jazz Awards 2008
803:BBC Jazz Awards 2007
270:After studying with
51:Contentious material
1046:Bebop saxophonists
559:Humphrey Lyttelton
722:as inspirations.
702:, Sonny Rollins,
510:Michael Parkinson
134:
133:
126:
108:
34:needs additional
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1022:
993:Official website
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945:
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911:. Archived from
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888:Allaboutjazz.com
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874:
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871:
869:
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772:The Little Giant
757:I Blew It My Way
733:Record Collector
567:The Best of Jazz
539:and Pete Cater.
382:John Critchinson
181:John Critchinson
163:
129:
122:
118:
115:
109:
107:
73:"Simon Spillett"
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47:reliable sources
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23:
16:
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1014:discography at
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627:Michael Brandon
609:Gearbox Records
603:, John Pearce,
586:BBC Jazz Awards
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299:Thelonious Monk
295:Dizzy Gillespie
268:
161:
145:Buckinghamshire
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987:External links
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863:Examiner.co.uk
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704:Dick Morrissey
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680:Martin Freeman
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623:BBC Jazz Award
550:
547:
537:Alec Dankworth
496:Trevor Tomkins
483:
480:
476:Monica Mancini
462:, saxophonist
441:Ronnie Scott's
418:Gwilym Simcock
390:John Dankworth
371:John Etheridge
367:Steve Waterman
343:Spike Robinson
335:Dick Morrissey
291:Charlie Parker
280:Jimmy Skidmore
267:
264:
236:Monica Mancini
208:John Etheridge
188:John Dankworth
169:Alec Dankworth
132:
131:
55:poorly sourced
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815:Similar Souls
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488:Henry Lowther
481:
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474:and vocalist
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457:
456:Jon Hendricks
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449:Mick Hucknall
446:
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410:Louis Stewart
407:
406:Bobby Wellins
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373:and vocalist
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368:
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363:Alan Skidmore
358:
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348:
347:Duncan Lamont
344:
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336:
331:
329:
328:Sonny Rollins
325:
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320:John Coltrane
316:
315:Frank Sinatra
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307:Sonny Rollins
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224:Jon Hendricks
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220:Bobby Wellins
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200:Liane Carroll
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69:Find sources:
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41:
37:
32:
27:
18:
17:
969:
954:
942:. Retrieved
938:
929:
919:13 September
917:. Retrieved
913:the original
903:
891:. Retrieved
887:
878:
866:. Retrieved
862:
852:
837:Dear Tubby H
836:
830:
824:
814:
808:
802:
796:
784:The Guardian
782:
778:
776:
771:
769:
756:
751:
747:Jazz Journal
746:
740:
737:
731:
729:
700:Ronnie Scott
689:
675:
673:
669:Jazz Journal
668:
665:Jazz Journal
664:
660:
657:Jazz Line-Up
656:
654:
646:
643:
637:directed by
635:BBC Big Band
620:
617:Jazz Journal
616:
612:
598:
594:Jazz Journal
593:
589:
577:
575:
566:
554:
552:
544:
541:
534:
526:Manfred Mann
518:Van Morrison
507:
504:
494:and drummer
485:
482:2013–present
458:, trumpeter
453:
429:Allan Ganley
422:Clark Tracey
414:Jack Parnell
384:and drummer
379:
369:, guitarist
365:, trumpeter
359:
355:BBC Big Band
332:
288:
272:Eddie Harvey
269:
266:Early career
259:
255:Jazz Journal
253:
251:
246:
240:
185:
177:Ronnie Scott
173:Clark Tracey
171:and drummer
166:
158:Jazz Journal
156:
136:
135:
120:
114:January 2023
111:
101:
94:
87:
80:
68:
57:
40:verification
33:
1036:1974 births
791:Discography
765:Stan Tracey
712:Ben Webster
708:Hank Mobley
692:Tubby Hayes
631:BBC Radio 2
588:. In 2009,
582:Spike Wells
565:radio show
500:Miles Davis
472:Gregg Field
468:Phil DeGreg
437:Spike Wells
426:Tony Kinsey
402:Stan Tracey
394:Alan Barnes
386:Martin Drew
311:Stan Kenton
284:Lol Coxhill
243:Tubby Hayes
228:Kurt Elling
216:Alan Barnes
192:Stan Tracey
1030:Categories
844:References
831:Square One
819:Danny Moss
809:Sienna Red
686:Influences
639:Guy Barker
613:Square One
590:Sienna Red
578:Sienna Red
522:Paul Jones
514:Cleo Laine
492:Dave Green
470:, drummer
466:, pianist
464:Greg Abate
460:Bobby Shew
445:Will Young
433:Tony Levin
398:Danny Moss
339:Art Themen
232:Bobby Shew
212:Guy Barker
196:Peter King
84:newspapers
998:Interview
939:Bbc.co.uk
738:Jazz Rag,
716:Stan Getz
605:Len Skeat
601:Mike Carr
324:Stan Getz
303:Stan Getz
36:citations
1007:AllMusic
944:8 August
893:8 August
868:8 August
770:In 2008,
742:Jazzwise
661:Jazz Rag
375:Tina May
276:Tony Coe
204:Tina May
62:libelous
1016:Discogs
754:Vic Ash
726:Writing
571:Jazz FM
512:, Dame
351:Vic Ash
141:Chesham
98:scholar
528:) and
100:
93:
86:
79:
71:
651:Media
162:'
105:JSTOR
91:books
29:This
946:2020
921:2013
895:2020
870:2020
763:and
745:and
718:and
524:(of
447:and
435:and
345:and
326:and
282:and
234:and
218:and
149:jazz
77:news
38:for
1005:at
629:on
563:BBC
561:'s
153:BBC
1032::
937:.
886:.
861:.
817:-
787:.
749:.
736:,
714:,
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682:.
641:.
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478:.
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49:.
978:.
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923:.
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872:.
127:)
121:(
116:)
112:(
102:·
95:·
88:·
81:·
64:.
43:.
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