Rising-star pianist Deschanel Gordon was born in Hackney and grew up surrounded by a wide range of music from gospel to reggae. Aged ten Deschanel saw a video of virtuoso pianist Oscar Peterson, sparking his love of jazz and setting him on his musical path. He switched from classical to jazz piano training and attended programmes such as the Hackney Creative Jazz Ensemble and the Julian Joseph Jazz Academy, before formalising his studies at Trinity Laban Conservatoire.  Deschanel’s style is steeped in the heavy swing tradition (where you can still hear his early influences of Oscar Peterson, Wynton Marsalis & McCoy Tyner) yet looks forward and soaks in his other stylistic influences, from gospel to reggae to neo-soul.

Although he has only just graduated from Trinity, Deschanel is already making waves on the UK jazz scene, winning BBC Young Jazz Musician 2020 and performing/recording with many of the UK’s leading lights including Alex Hitchcock’s Dream Band, Mark Kavuma’s Banger Factory, Cassie Kinoshi’s SEED Ensemble and US-born singer Judi Jackson. He has performed at many of London’s best-known jazz venues, including the 606 Club, Ronnie’s Scott's, the Jazz Café, the Barbican and Cadogan Hall and has also travelled widely, playing at jazz festivals in Europe and the USA, including Moods in Zurich, New York’s Winter Jazz Festival, Jazz TM in Romania and Fasching in Sweden.

This concert is supported by Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund and Forsyth Pianos.

“Gordon…delivers a flowingly expansive piano solo…exhibiting a…relaxed fluency” The Jazzmann

“the piano man to watch…Deschanel Gordon” London Jazz News

“Deschanel Gordon…a…player of immense stature with a seemingly unending stream of ideas…simply jaw dropping” Sussex Jazz Magazine

Deschanel Gordon // piano

Will Sach // bass

Will Cleasby // drums