American blues saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter teams up with British band BluesMove for Selby Town Hall gig tonight

Jimmy Carpenter: Saxophone blues and soul at Selby Town Hall. Picture: Marilyn Stringer

SELBY Town Hall welcomes Grammy and Blues Music Award-winning saxophonist Jimmy Carpenter tonight, all the way from Las Vegas.

“Jimmy will be playing with superb UK blues quartet BluesMove as his backing band – it should be a cracking gig in our little space,” says Selby Town Council arts officer Chris Jones.

“One of the most complete and versatile artists on the contemporary blues, soul and rock scene, Jimmy is having a stellar year, winning a Best Instrumentalist gong at the Blues Music Awards for the second year running and becoming a Grammy Award-winning composer for Tomb Tune, a song he contributed to the New Orleans Nightcrawlers’ winning album, Atmosphere.”

Born in Greensboro, North Caroline, electric blues saxophonist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer Carpenter has been a working musician for more than 40 years, releasing five solo albums since 2008.

He is touring Great Britain to promote The Louisiana Record, his latest studio recordings for the legendary Gulf Coast Records, his label since 2019. That year’s album, Soul Doctor, was preceded by Plays The Blues in 2017, Walk Away in 2014 and Toiling In Obscurity in 2008.

Carpenter has toured internationally with Tinsley Ellis, Jimmy Thackery, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Eric Lindell and Mike Zito And The Wheel as well as writing, arranging and recording horns for dozens of artists, gaining a reputation as a master blues, rock’n’roll and R&B saxophonist.

His recording credits include work for Thackery, Washington, Lindell, Zito, Billy Iuso, Tab Benoit, Maria Muldaur and Honey Island Swamp Band.

After many years of playing in the clubs of New Orleans, Carpenter now lives in Las Vegas, where he has become musical director of The Big Blues Bender festival.

“There are few more in-demand blues sax players in the world than Jimmy Carpenter,” says Chris. “He’s been a winner in the biggest international blues awards for two years running, with a hatful of other nominations besides – testament to what a high quality and highly respected performer he is.

“With the brilliant BluesMove playing alongside him, Jimmy’s show in Selby is shaping up to be a really magnificent night of top-drawer music.”

Tickets for tonight’s 8pm gig are on sale on 01757 708449, at selbytownhall.co.uk or on the door from 7.30pm.