Nigel Price

A superb jazz guitarist, Nigel Price covers a wide range of jazz standards from the 1920s to the current day and can perform solo, as a duo and in larger ensembles including guitar with any combination of saxophone, vibraphone and other jazz instruments. He regularly performs as a trio with Hammond organ and drums or bass and drums. On solo performances, Nigel has the ability to record and play back his rhythm guitar allowing him to solo over his own accompaniment.

Nigel was born and raised in Surrey. He began playing guitar aged eleven and spent the next seven years messing around in school bands/rock bands etc. Laterly he moved to Brighton where he discovered fusion and jazz and trained as a sound engineer. Inevitably the days by the seaside had to come to an end and he moved back to Surrey, forming more adventurous funk and fusion outfits, touring Europe and eventually becoming immersed in modern jazz. A chance meeting with Acid Jazz guru Chris Bangs led to a busy recording schedule and a long term partnership spawning many funk and jazz recordings.

Nigel is now a well established member of the jazz community and is an in demand sideman as well as leading his own groups, preferring the organ, drums, guitar combo but versatile enough to feel comfortable in a variety of musical scenarios. He has encountered many different musicians along the way and is pleased to have played with (amongst others): Pee Wee Ellis, Alex Garnett, Matt Wates, Bobby Wellins, Alec Dankworth, Alan Barnes, Martin Drew, Ben Clatworthy, Dave O’Higgins, Mark Ramsden, Julian Siegel, Mike Gorman, Mike Outram, Pete Long, Frank Griffith, Dave Cliff, Steve Waterman, Laurence Cottle, Anthony Kerr, Mornington Lockett, Steve Watts, Mike Janisch, Jim Watson, Graham Fox, Nick France, Sir Brian Iddendon, Geoff Gascoyne, Martin Shaw, James Pearson, Sam Burgess, Chris Dagley, Matt Home, Pete Whittaker, Sam Gambarini, Simon Spillet, Dave Newton, Spike Wells, Peter King.

The Nigel Price Organ Trio won “best jazz ensemble” in the 2010 Parliamentary Jazz Awards.

Reviews:

“Earlier in the evening at Joe’s Bar in Summertown, a more explicitly American and straight-grooving approach had been explored by guitarist Nigel Price’s trio, with Pete Whittaker on organ and Clark Tracey on drums. Classic hard-bop themes by legends such as guitarist Wes Montgomery got the treatment, but the skilful Price lovingly celebrated Montgomery’s languidly bluesy lyricism and breezy swing, and the group heated up this 50 year-old style with an irresistible conviction.” John Fordham, The Guardian 2010

“Arundel hosted jazz guitarist Nigel Price last night. Direct from Ronnie Scott’s house band, Nigel has rightly earned a reputation as one of  Britain’s finest players on the six strings. Many of the audience leaving at the end last night would ask if that description was too narrow – perhaps one of the finest players in the World would be more accurate. He does things that are so technically difficult and yet makes it seem all so easy, so flowing. Chords spread across 6 frets, harmonics, octaves, rake picking, fingerstyle chord melody and lightening, lightening speed all these things just appear in the course of a solo. It makes for a tremendous exciting sound. Nigel rightly praised drummer Alex Eberhard for his key contribution last night; fighting fire with fire as a nice musical exchange of ideas took place between soloist and percussionist. Terry Seabrook was outstanding yet again, obviously enjoying his first meeting with Nigel. He lifted the roof off with his solo on Killer Joe (played in tribute to drummer Louis Borenius who sadly died last month). Steve was driving it all along with some lovely solid down the line, no nonsense walking. “Back to Back” featured the bass player taking the first solo and drawing the audiences appreciation with some fine bluesy, bop phrases. Nigel finished the evening off with Tenor Madness delivered at a blistering pace.The audience were swept along by the sheer musical force, as the notes seemed to pop out from his guitar like so many bullets fired from a gun. If you haven’t seen this groovy jazz gunslinger play yet then make amends immediately, he’s a legend in the making. “ Griff Prescott, Arundel Jazz Club – March 2009