Steinway 2-Piano Festival

Jamie Safir & Nikki Iles / Harry Bolt & Chris Eldred

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Saturday 19 th March 2022

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

This special Saturday lunch show brings together two top drawer piano duos, who have not previously worked together - Jamie Safir with former teacher Nikki Iles and young pianist/composer/bandleader Harry Bolt with Chris Eldred.

 

"...one of the biggest talents of British jazz piano"

Jay Rayner, The Guardian (on Jamie Safir)

NIKKI ILES

Nikki Iles is in the front rank of British jazz musicians. From early days playing harmonica and clarinet, she later studied piano at the Royal Academy and played in the Bedfordshire Youth Jazz Orchestra. She moved to Yorkshire and studied at Leeds College of Music; after more than 15 years in Yorkshire, she moved back to London in 1998. She had begun composing and played with the Creative Jazz Orchestra, and many important musicians including Kenny Wheeler, Mike Walker, Mike Gibbs, Mark Anthony Turnage, Mick Hutton, Stan Sulzmann, Steve Arguelles, Steve Berry and Tina May.

She has recorded a number of duo albums including with Stan Sulzmann (two), Martin Speake and Tina May. She has won many awards for composition, for best group and as a pianist. In addition to performing, composing and recording, an important part of her musical life is as a teacher including active links with The Royal Academy of Music and Middlesex University. She has published several books on jazz piano. Recent playing highlights include with The Julian Arguelles Octet, The Kenny Wheeler Big Band, Tony Coe and Tina May, her trio with Jeff Williams, The Stan Sulzmann Big Band, Joe Locke and Neil Pursey. She recently sold out Dean Street leading her own star-studded Jazz Orchestra.

JAMIE SAFIR

Pianist, Keyboardist, Songwriter and Musical-Director Jamie Safir is in high demand across the UK and Europe and has worked with some of the finest names in jazz and pop music. He is currently on tour with Will Young, Mica Paris and Birdy and has recently released an album ‘What’s New' with multi-award winners, Ian Shaw & Iain Ballamy. In 2020, Jamie was selected by Decca Records to record for a solo piano compilation album entitled ‘Alone Together’ that was released that year to critical acclaim. As a prominent member of the UK Jazz Scene he has also performed with: Clare Teal, Judi Jackson, Claire Martin OBE, Liane Carroll, Joe Stilgoe and Stan Sulzmann, as well as many performances with the Ronnie Scott’s All Stars.

HARRY BOLT

Multifaceted London based Jazz Pianist Harry Bolt makes a highly anticipated return to the Scene! Frequently quoted as the “One to watch”, Harry plays to sell out gigs across the UK and internationally.  He made a significant mark on 2019 New York’s Jazz Scene while studying under the Effortless Mastery Author & renowned Berklee educator, Kenny Werner. Also, during his latest tour through Italy in early  2020 pre-COVID, Harry headlined for Rome’s leading Venues during his latest tour through Italy. 

Mentored by one of the UK’s most highly regarded pianists of all time, John Taylor, Harry’s accomplished style ranges from traditional to contemporary modern, playing from the heart with versatility, passion and also a subtle, soulful flair. Outside of performing, Harry is a successful professional educator, with his own Jazz Piano Academy formed in 2018.

CHRIS ELDRED 

Chris began his training in jazz upon his arrival at Trinity College of Music in September 2007, taking valuable tuition with renowned educators Simon Purcell, Liam Noble, Jean Toussaint, Dave Wickins, Kirk Lightsey and Douglas Finch (classical 2nd study). He was one of six winners of the 2011 Yamaha Scholarship Award for Outstanding Jazz Musicians and graduated in the same year from Trinity with first class honours.

Chris has performed in many world famous venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, the 606, the Royal Albert Hall, the Vortex, the Bull’s Head, Pizza Express Jazz Club. He has performed alongside leading UK jazz musicians such as Jean Toussaint (Art Blakey), Malcolm Earle-Smith, Bobby Wellins (Stan Tracey) and many others. He held the piano chair with NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) from 2008-2014, playing high profile performances such as the BBC Proms, broadcast on BBC radio and television (2012) and many of England’s finest jazz festivals (Scarborough, Wigan, Gateshead) and concert halls (Poole Lighthouse, Southbank Centre). He has since appeared with the legendary Syd Lawrence Orchestra.