Tom Ridout


Tom Ridout is a rising star in the world of jazz. Hailed by Jazzwise Magazine as an upcoming musician to watch back in 2012, Tom has more than lived up to that promise in the years since. He’s a talented saxophonist and recorder player who’s won acclaim for his performances, recordings, and compositions.

A graduate of the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, Tom has won a slew of awards, including the Help Musicians Peter Whittingham Jazz Award, the Lancaster Jazz Festival Youth Jazz Commission, and the Craig Ball Award. He was also a finalist in the 2016 BBC Young Musician Jazz Award, an honour that helped put him on the map in the UK jazz scene. Whether he’s performing his original compositions with his own bands or collaborating with other artists, Tom brings a unique energy and creativity to every project he’s involved with.

Tom has played at some of the most iconic jazz venues in the UK, including Ronnie Scott’s, The 606, and the Barbican Centre. He’s also performed at Buckingham Palace and the Sage Theatre in Gateshead. Tom’s debut album, “No Excuses,” showcases his talent as both a composer and performer. With a 13-piece band that includes traditional jazz instrumentation as well as a string quartet and brass trio, the album is a true tour de force. It received rave reviews and has been played on Jazz FM and other radio stations across the UK.

Through his studies at the Royal Academy of Music and his work with NYJO (the National Youth Jazz Orchestra), Tom has had the opportunity to perform with some of the biggest names in jazz, including Gregory Porter, Nikki Iles, Gwilym Simcock, and Dave Holland. He also performs with bands such as The James Taylor Quartet, Clark Tracey, Patchwork Jazz Orchestra, Tristan Mailliot’s Chick Corea Project and was honoured to be part of an all star line up for The Barbara Thompson Memorial Concert celebrating the music and legacy of iconic saxophonist Barbara Thompson MBE in June ’23.

For anyone who loves jazz, Tom Ridout is a musician you won’t want to miss. With his incredible talent, boundless creativity, and passion for the music, he’s a true force to be reckoned with in the jazz world. He can usually be found on Mondays leading the house band and running the Jam session at sYp, 19 Bevis Marks, London EC3A 7JA from 7-10pm.

Press quotes: “If you get a chance just go and see this band: their repertoire is rich in textures, complexity and virtuoso performances -you won’t be disappointed” (John Morrow – Riff Magazine)
“Names to note: … the very persuasive Tom Ridout on tenor” (Peter Vacher – London Jazz News)
“Tom Ridout on virtuosic recorder” (Mike Collins- London Jazz News)
“fiery, focussed soloing by impressive tenor saxophonist Tom Ridout” (Selwyn Harris- Jazzwise)

Chris Eldred


Chris began his musical life playing piano, clarinet and singing until specialising in jazz piano at Trinity College of Music graduating with first class honours in 2011. He was one of six winners of the 2011 Yamaha Scholarship Award for Outstanding Jazz Musicians. During these years he also held the piano chair with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, cutting his teeth as a pro musician.

Chris has since performed and recorded with big bands such as the Louis Dowdeswell Big Band and Syd Lawrence Orchestra. He has worked in small groups on the London scene, frequenting Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St and the 606, and has appeared twice at the BBC Proms (in 2012 and 2024.) He is a member of UK touring band Hejira (celebrating the music of Joni Mitchell.) Chris has shared the stage with UK artists including Tunde of the Lighthouse family and Joseph Lawrence (notably supporting Rag and Bone man.)

Chris has recorded on albums by Noemi Nuti, Callum Au, Louis Dowdeswell, Joseph Lawrence amongst many others. His musical life has also included leading his own Jazz trio at Ronnie Scott’s and elsewhere, and singing with the London Vocal Project since 2015.

Dave Jones


While Dave is the also organising force behind Grand Union Jazz his bass playing in recent years has included Hejira - a Tribute to Joni Mitchell, Ronnie Scott’s Soul and Jazz Orchestra, Pete Cater Big Band, Way Out West Jazz Collective, Stefanos Tsourelis Trio, Tom Seals, Brandon Allen Groove Band, Jeremy Sassoon and Julian Costello. He has played with some of the finest jazz musicians in the UK such as Pete Long, Jacqui Dankworth, Frank Griffith and John Etheridge and also with visiting American artists such as Howard Levy. He has played alongside drummers Steve Gadd, Steve Smith and Keith Carlock and he is active in jazz education teaching regularly at Richmond Jazz School, International Summer Schools and Kingston University.

Dave also leads a classic nonet line up featuring some of the UK’s finest jazz musicians including Henry Lowther, Mark Armstrong, Nick Mills, Tony Woods, Tom Ridout, Chris Biscoe, John Turville, Tristan Mailliot plus various special guests including Brigitte Beraha, Demi Garcia Sabat on percussion and Mike Outram on guitar.

Playing and exploring the Nonet arrangements of great American writers such as Bob Hammer, Marty Paich and Frank Griffith provided the inspiration for the band while the experience of playing with Pete Cater Big Band, Ronnie Scott’s Soul and Jazz Orchestra, BBC Big Band and in formative days ‘Eurojazz' the European Community Youth Jazz Orchestra provided a unique perspective on writing for this the classic Nonet line up.

Dave’s writing is sophisticated and nuanced. Just when you think you know where he’s going, there is a change of texture or tempo, you do find yourself in an unexpected place and …. it’s beautiful!! … “ London Jazz News’.