For his second album on Woodville Records, tenor saxophonist Simon Spillett consolidates the critical acclaim and popular success of his debut recording, with a set of tunes composed by or associated with the great Tubby Hayes. Winner of the BBC Jazz Award for Rising Star in 2007, Spillett's career has risen in meteoric fashion in the past two and a half years. In 2004 he formed his first quartet and the group rapidly attracted attention, playing sell-out gigs at festivals such as Brecon, and jazz clubs and concert venues across the country. In 2006, the band's debut recording 'Introducing Simon Spillett', garnered widespread praise from respected jazz observers such as Humphrey Lyttelton, Dave Gelly and Clive Davis. The rhythm section on 'Sienna Red' now includes ex-Hayes drummer Spike Wells who brings a new intensity to the proceedings. Widely regarded as the authority on the life and work of Hayes, Spillett spent a great deal of time assembling a varied play list for this second album, drawing in rare pieces written - but never actually recorded - by Tubby, ranging from themes for the Jazz Couriers through to items from the days of Spike Wells own stay with Tubby's quartet in the late 1960s. Despite being hailed in some quarters as "the new Tubby", Simon has absorbed the essence of his influences but remains staunchly his own man. With Simon's powerful but controlled authority, awesome fluency and tenderness on ballads, this is indeed an album to savour. Personnel: Simon Spillett (tenor saxophone), John Critchinson (piano), Andrew Cleyndert (double bass), Spike Wells (drums)
