LLANDUDNO JAZZ FESTIVAL

"Had Scott's Club died overnight and been heard of no more, it could still have justified its existence by pointing to a discovery like Peter King." Benny Green, 'Jazz Decade, Ten Years At Ronnie Scott's'

A quote that recalls the opening night of the long legendary Jazz venue, when a 19 year old saxophonist’s performance pointed to a star in the making – and now, more than fifty years later, a bona fide legend himself.

One of the world’s greatest alto players, Peter is also a prolific composer/arranger working in both the jazz and classical traditions, and has found further success in the sciences, with a body of published work and awards in aerodynamics… a diverse career, neatly encapsulated by the title of his autobiography, Flying High: A Jazz Life and Beyond!

Although he now concentrates on his work as a solo artist, King has played with many jazz greats including Bud Powell, Red Rodney, The Ray Charles Orchestra, Lalo Schifrin, Philly Joe Jones, and Elvin Jones, not to mention other iconic artists such as Tony Bennett, James Brown, Lauren Bacall and Marlene Deitrich. King is also known for his recorded work as a featured soloist and Musical Director/Arranger for the Charlie Watts Quintet and Tentet and, in 2000, he toured with Benny Golson and his tribute band ROOTS.

His own work is both diverse and critically acclaimed – winner of a British Jazz Award for his album,Tamburello, he was later commissioned by the BBC to write Janus, a bold and innovative work which combined both the Jazz and Classical forms. Recorded with his own regular quartet and featuring the Lyric String Quartet, the CD of Janus received wide praise. His forays into opera have also found success - Zyklon, (Libretto by Julian Barry), the story of the controversial German scientist Fritz Haber, was premiered in New York, 2004, to a standing ovation. In 2006, King was commissioned to compose a new ‘Mass for Jazz Quintet and full cathedral choir’ which premiered with great success at Newcastle Cathedral the following May.

Also no stranger to stage and screen, King’s acting appearances have peppered his career, appearing in films such as Anthony Minghella's The Talented Mr Ripley and Michael Caine’s Blue Ice, not to mention performing on soundtracks for renowned directors such as Mike Figgis.

It's a career decorated in both Music and Science. In 2005 he won the prestigious BBC Musician of the Year award and in that same year the depth of his artistic accomplishment was recognised when he was presented with a special Life Time Achievement Award at the Moscow Summer Festival. With awards in his scientific too, in 2008 he received an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Roehampton University in recognition of his diverse accomplishments.

Five decades at the summit of saxophony and there’s no stopping him – last year he was playing to packed houses in New York, and this year he was invited by Wynton Marsalis to appear as a special guest in Wynton’s “Bebop and Beyond” concert at the Barbican in London. Our advice – don’t miss this gig!

“the finest alto saxophonist that Britain has ever produced, and one of the finest in the world today” Dave Gelly, 'The Giants Of Jazz'

“Peter King is one of the best musicians in the world. [In his Opera, Zyklon], I was very impressed by his avant-garde writing techniques, and his sense of drama. He travels very comfortably in the language of jazz and classical music. I feel very lucky to have met him and to have worked with him” Lalo Schifrin

“Peter’s renditon of "Body And Soul"… was just breathtaking… a fantastic saxophonist! ...he knocks me out completely” Benny Golson

“World’s great Altoist” Nat Adderley

"I hear both Trane and Bird in his playing, but he is better than either of them." Gene Lees (Lyricist and long time editor of Downbeat Magazine)