Dom Pipkin: Piano from London, Soul from New Orleans

“I can’t hold a candle to this guy. He’s a great piano player” Jamie Cullum, live on Radio 2

Alongside a glittering session career (David Byrne, Ray Davies, Morcheeba), piano player and songwriter Dom Pipkin has been described by Blues in Britain as “one of the world’s greatest exponents of New Orleans piano”. He first discovered the New Orleans style in the early 90s, and has gone on to become a regular visitor and performer in that city, with appearances that include the highly acclaimed “Piano Night” and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival.

Dom has developed a particular specialisation for the unique flavours of maverick New Orleans piano star James Booker (1939-83), capturing the player’s trademark combination of driving blues married with rhapsodic classical influences. He was invited to play at the world premiere of the documentary “Bayou Maharajah” at SXSW in 2014, and at multiple subsequent screenings of the film.

As well as being a regular fixture on the European blues and boogie woogie festival circuit, Dom regularly performs and records in New Orleans, and has shared stages with legends such as Allen Toussaint, Dr John and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.

“When Dom plays the piano magic happens” – Paloma Faith