Mike Chillingworth Biography

Mike Chillingworth is a London based saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist and composer. He regularly performs throughout the UK and internationally with his own groups, and with many leading musicians at the forefront of British and European jazz.

The Mike Chillingworth Quartet featuring Ivo Neame (Marius Neset, Phronesis), Tom Farmer (Empirical), Jon Scott (Sons of Kemet, Go Go Penguin, Kairos Quartet) are currently working towards releasing their debut album.

Previously as a band leader Mike released an album of original music for septet called Scratch And Sift on Two Rivers Records to critical acclaim, featuring an all star cast of some of the top improvisers of the London jazz scene: Tom Challenger, George Crowley, Josh Arcoleo, Lewis Wright, Sam Lasserson and Jon Scott.

Mike is a long standing member of acclaimed guitarist Ant Law’s quintet, alongside Ivo Neame, Tom Farmer and James Maddren, recording four albums and touring extensively throughout the UK and Europe, as well as performing live on BBC Radio 3 and numerous other media appearances.

Other sideman recordings and collaborations include the Julian Siegel Jazz Orchestra, Ivo Neame Dodeka, Gareth Lockrane Big Band, Josephine Davies Jazz Orchestra, Miguel Gorodi Nonet, Rick Simpson’s Klammer and In Rainbows, Troyk-estra (Kit Downes, Chris Montague and Josh Blackmore), Stan Sulzmann’s Neon Orchestra and as a member of the band Round Trip with the much celebrated and missed rising trumpet star Richard Turner who passed away in 2011. Mike can regularly be heard in London performing with the Calum Gourlay Big Band and Gareth Lockrane Big Band, and has had radio play on BBC Radio 3, Radio 2, Jazz FM and other independent and local radio stations.

Alongside his creative and performing endeavors, Mike harbors a deep passion for both jazz and general music education, actively balancing a dynamic career as a dedicated educator.

Press cuttings and reviews

“Chillingworth's compositions deliver long twisty lines and thumping counterpoints, resonant voicings and a slightly bucolic Englishness that reminds me of Mike Westbrook’s writing.”
Mike Hobart, Jazzwise Magazine

“Law's regular partnership with shrewdly melodic alto saxist Mike Chillingworth is central to the band's power, building smouldering intensity without bravura”
John Fordham, The Guardian

"Really special ... Very complicated but full of wit and melody too. Clever Sod."
Liam Noble

 “Chillingworth is emblematic of this generation of jazz musician: a sculptor and architect with a keen sense of form, flow, colour and texture - he is surrounded by a community of generous, like-minded creative musicians all armed with ridiculous facility and a contagious sense of humour. The resulting music is exactly as great as it should be”
cellarsandlofts.blogspot.co.uk

“a typically adventurous statement from the consistently remarkable Chillingworth”
Eddie Myer, jazzviews.net

“lyrical and imaginative alto saxophonist Mike Chillingworth, with a gorgeous sound and sense of line.. His 'out' playing was controlled, reminiscent in many ways of the very best of Art Pepper.”
Sebastian Scotney, londonjazznews.com

“The other remarkable aspect of this music is the way Law and Chillingworth, clearly channelling that symbiotic thing, weave and interlace their tandem melody lines – even before the head has ended the dance has begun – and then extend them out into seemingly effortless, long, sinewy tunes. Magical stuff!”
Peter Bacon, thejazzbreakfast.com