Joe Stilgoe Keynote Speaker

Joe Stilgoe is a jazz musician noted for his singing, piano playing and sense of humour, which have made him a favourite at the UK’s top jazz clubs, where he regularly plays with his dynamic young trio.

His formidable piano technique (described by jazz singer Ian Shaw as “a cross between Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans and Les Dawson”) and vocal range (described as “wonderful” by New York cabaret legend Steve Ross) stem from a classical training starting when he was five. Joe has appeared at Ronnie Scott’s, the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, the 606 club, Pizza Express Jazz Club, the Barbican, London Jazz Festival, Chelsea Festival, City Of London Festival, Henley Festival, Sardinia Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, Dubai jazz Festival and in jazz clubs from New York to Berlin to Milan. And Dorking.

In 2011 he made his solo debut at the Edinburgh Fringe where his show One Hour! was a sell-out and garnered much critical acclaim (5 stars in The Scotsman). In 2012 he released his second album – We Look To The Stars, which immediately went straight to the top of the jazz charts while pulling in rave reviews from the national press.

Joe has worked extensively on radio, appearing on the Now Show and The Horne Section for Radio 4, and has been a contributor and special guest with Alan Carr, Michael Parkinson and numerous other Radio 2 programmes including Friday Night Is Music Night.  Joe writes songs for many other artists, and gives master-classes across the country in performance and improvisation. He is a founding member of the hit comedy show, The Horne Section.