Dino Baptiste

Dino Baptiste has been an outstanding pianist working in the UK and beyond for over two decades, sharing his prodigious talent amongst an array of local and internationally recognised artists and best known here at the Club as the pianist with the iconic Blues singer Dana Gillespie. Although capable of performing in an array of Jazz styles, it has been his love and enthusiasm for Blues, Boogie Woogie and Soul that has seen him become firmly established as a leading pianist/vocalist. He first started performing in the mid 70's, influenced by the likes of Ray Charles, Nat King Cole, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Louis Prima, influences that he has carried through to this day. After a short spell in Australia in the late 80's he returned to the UK in the early 90's when he was hired by Dana to accompany her for a show. It was a musical match made in heaven and more than 20 years later he remains an integral part of her band, performing worldwide with her and appearing on all the albums she has made in that time. A busy and successful musician, as well as with Dana, Dino also includes work with the likes of Donald Fagen, Lulu, Leo Sayer and Paul Jones & The Blues Band, plus numerous gigs with his own band at Clubs and Blues festivals around the UK and Europe. His debut CD “Two Timing Lover” was received with considerable acclaim in the Blues and Boogie Woogie world particularly, and it is music from this album plus as Dino puts it "an exclusive selection of old hits from my idols Ray Charles and Nat King Cole" that he will be performing tonight. A high energy performer with an infectious personality and skills to match, anyone who has seen Dino's dynamic performances with Dana here at the Club will know just how impressive his Blues and Boogie Woogie playing really is. For this gig Dino will be joined by Theo Jobst on sax along with Dominic Stockbridge on guitar and Evan Jenkins on drums. For those who love piano playing at its most infectious this is a gig not to be missed.

“Dino Baptiste…so highly regarded by the British blues press…impressive...among the best of the current crop of British blues keyboard players” Blues on Stage