Tom Ollendorff is fast becoming one of the best-known young guitarists to emerge on the international jazz scene. A graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music in Cardiff, he was awarded the Yamaha Parliamentary Jazz Scholarship in 2016.

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Tom's debut album 'A Song For You' was released on Fresh Sound Records in May 2021 and received international acclaim and helped to launch an international touring career that has seen Tom perform at many of Europe’s best known Jazz clubs including Ronnie Scott’s, Sunset-Sunside, Jamboree, Jimmy Glass, Jazz-Hus Montmartre, Nardis, Budapest Jazz Club, Jazz in Bess, Jazz Club Ferrara as well as performances at notable venues and festivals including London Jazz Festival, Koa Jazz Festival, Brecon Jazz Festival and the One Day Jazz Festival.

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His latest album Open House was released in May 2023 and sees a continuation of his work with his trio with long-term trio featuring Marc Michel on drums and Conor Chaplin on bass, with the addition of the critically acclaimed saxophonist Ben Wendel on four tracks. The recent release has received global recognition and has seen Tom continue to build his international reputation and following.

Alongside his work as a bandleader, Tom has been fortunate to work extensively as a sideman with a wide range of artists including Ari Hoenig, Bill McHenry, Geoff Simkins, Huw Warren, Tim Garland, Nitai Hershkovits and The Fresh Sound Ensemble

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Tom is known for his highly distinctive sound which blends virtuosic technique, sophisticated harmonic concepts with nuance and sensitivity and in October 2022 he published his first works for solo guitar with Faber Music. The book, titled ‘Etudes’ has been sold across Europe, Asia, Australasia, and North America.

Tom is currently a visiting tutor at the Royal Welsh College of Music and has been a guest tutor at many top institutions internationally including The Guildhall, Nanjing University, Istanbul Bachesir University and Leeds College of Music.

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Select press:

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'Meticulous Eloquence' (The Guardian)

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'Exquisite virtuoso musicianship that tugged at the heart strings as much as it thrilled. An early contender for one of the gigs of the year' (All About Jazz, Album launch review)

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Last but not least, mark the name of Tom Ollendorff. Young and sophisticated, he is the rising star of the six-string made in England. Ollendorff looks at the aesthetic between post bop, cool and modernism that makes harmonisations rather than virtuosity its strong point. (Music Paper Italy)

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'Ambitiously conceived and perfectly realised. Tom Ollendorff is making his quiet way towards ubiquity' (Jazzwise)

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'An album that deserves to be heard everywhere' (Jazz views)
 

‘Highly recommended’ (London Jazz Views)

 

 

A highly recommendable record for those who care about the fate of jazz guitar (Musica Jazz)

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‘Shimmering beauty’ (Simply Jazz Talks)

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‘A must listen to album, especially for those who like contemporary guitarists’ (Jazzlife Japan)

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‘Unbelievable, just the calm, what a technique’ (Veerhovens Jazz)

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‘Unmistakable is the beautiful and expressive guitar sound of the leader, which remains in the memory long after listening, a great album. (Jazz-Fun Germany)

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‘The British Musician is at the top of his game’ (Les Oreilles Curiesses)

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Ollendorff is a chef who cooks a dish that we know the taste of with the right ingredients and mastery (Dark Blue Notes, Turkey)

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‘Ollendorff’s writing combines accessibility with musical sophistication’ (The Jazzman)

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