As a recording artist he has released 7 critically lauded albums, four of which have topped the UK Jazz chart. In 2019 he released two albums - the first being a new departure of style and genre - THE HEAT IS ON! - Joe’s unique interpretation of the soundtrack from the 1980’s, reimagined with a full 1950s Big Band. In December 2019 he released another no.1 record - ‘Joe Stilgoe’s Christmas Album’, which featured guest stars including Rob Byrdon, Amy Dickson and The Canterbury Cathedral Girls Choir.
Joe has toured around the world with his band and as a solo act, appearing in festivals, jazz clubs and concert halls from Ronnie Scotts to The Barbican to Birdland in New York. As well as frequent guest performances he regularly puts together his own Big Band for sold-out shows across the country.
He hosts annual shows featuring illustrious names from the worlds of theatre, comedy and jazz at Crazy Coqs; Joe Stilgoe and Friends, and his Christmas specials at the Lyric Hammersmith have included Rob Brydon, Jamie Parker and Meow Meow. He made his Albert Hall debut as a special guest with Guy Barker’s Big Band in 2017. He has created award-winning shows for the London Jazz Festival including A Tribute To Gene Kelly at LSO St Lukes, Songs On Film at Cadogan Hall (plus three sold out Edinburgh Festival seasons and UK tour), and last year Joe Stilgoe & His Big Band at St Johns Smith Square.
He is a hugely sought-after performer for society parties, corporate events and charity fundraisers - he was asked to perform for The Queen and Duke Of Edinburgh’s 70th wedding anniversary at Windsor, and has given private performances for Prince Charles at St James Palace, the Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor, the Duchess of Cornwall at The Ritz in London and Prince Edward at Frogmore House, among many others. He has recently begun an association with The Science Museum, where last year he was the first jazz musician to be invited to give a talk on the science of music with Dr Philip Ball as part of their LATES season. He is also an ambassador for The Old Vic, Children & The Arts, The Orpheus Centre and Chestnut Tree House.
He works extensively on radio, having hosted and starred many times in BBC Radio 2’s Friday Night is Music Night, while also being a regular presence on the station (his show Joe Stilgoe – Christmas At The Movies He has appeared on the Now Show, Loose Ends and The Horne Section for Radio 4, and is a regular on In Tune for Radio 3.
As a theatre performer he starred in High Society at The Old Vic in 2015, which led to him being invited to perform at the 2016 Olivier Awards, and in 2018 starred in Guys And Dolls at the Albert Hall.
As composer and lyricist, he wrote music and lyrics for a new production of The Jungle Book, which toured the UK to great success in 2017 and 2018, and The Midnight Gang, an adaption of the David Walliams novel, which opened at Chichester Festival Theatre in 2018. He is currently working on many new theatrical projects, including a new Walliams adaptation and a new Julia Donaldson adaption - ZOG, which tours the UK in 2020.
On TV, he has appeared most notably hosting BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year, and least notably in Bargain Hunt.
