​ELLIOTT SANSOM  pianist/composer 

BIOGRAPHY

'Finalist of the BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year 2017'​

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Elliott Sansom, born in 1994, grew up in a musical family, and from a young age he was exposed to different types of music, particularly blues music, becoming intrigued by the music of Ray Charles. There was always a piano in the household, and from five years old, Elliott began experimenting with the instrument after showing a keen interest when hearing his mother and grandma playing.  Throughout school and college years, Elliott opted to study music and was very tuned into jazz and improvisation, showing a passion for artists such as Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson. In 2010, Elliott gained a place at Yehudi Menuhin School. This was a great opportunity and set him on the right pathway in his musical journey. Further that year, Elliott gained a place at the Junior Jazz department at the Birmingham Conservatoire, following up with the main course resulting in a first class BA (hons). 

 

Elliott has studied with John Taylor, John Turville and other tutors such as Mike Williams, Hans Koller, Liam Noble, Jean Toussaint and Percy Pursglove. He has also been involved in projects led by Jeff Ballard, John Riley, Norma Winstone, Dave Holland, John O’Gallagher, Kenny Garrett, and Jimmy Cobb.  In his third year, he was offered a placement semester studying at the Prestigious Paris Conservatoire, where he studied with Peiree de Bethman, Herve Sellin, François Theberge, Glenn Ferris and Riccardo Del Fra. He played many concerts and sessions around the city and also went to Germany to study piano with a renowned pianist Pablo Held.

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Elliott’s current influences include Jazz musicians such as John Taylor, Pablo Held, Paul Bley, Herbie Hancock, and classical composers such as Olivier Messiaen, Federico Mompou and Igor Stravinsky. He is particularly interested in the harmonic and rhythmic language shared in both jazz and classical music, and this is something he is exploring and studying in his playing.

 

Elliott Sansom is gaining recognition with his own groups, and one of his main writing projects is with his Trio with Ben Murihead on the Double bass and Nathan England Jones on the drums. He is also very active as a sideman and has collaborated with many musicians throughout the UK.  A few projects he is currently part of include, Clark Tracey Quintet, Tom Niblog Quartet, Ben Muirhead Quartet, Stepmother Jag, The Anthony Jones Big Band, Birmingham Conservatoire Jazz Ensemble and The Tom Haines Trio.  Alongside playing, Elliott runs his own recording studio with his brother Olly Sansom. Sansom Studios is a creative space offering high class production and recording.

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Recent appearances include, BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year (finalist), BBC proms with the Elliott Sansom Trio,  and the Musicians Company jazz nominee at the pizza express. Elliott is currently working the the renowned Clark Tracey in his new quintet. See below for dates.

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