Dom Pipkin style developed out of a love of the New Orleans piano professors – Professor Longhair, James Booker, Huey ‘Piano’ Smith, Jon Cleary, as well as from a whole host of jazz and blues influences, such as Errol Garner and Otis Spann. His solo set (most famously booked privately by the late Stanley Kubrik) shows his classical and sometimes rhapsodic influences, married with a tough approach to the blues and driving left hand rhythms.
The band The Iko’s takes the New Orleans influence and fleshes it out with drums, harmonies, wailing sax, and has been resident at Ronnie Scott’s London, and around the RnB club scene, where it’s reputation as a top level live act is second to none.
Born in Chester, England, but growing up in the Netherlands, Dom learned ‘official’ piano as a kid and started fooling around with blues and jazz aged about 12, copying records from the local music library, and forming his first band at the same time. A period of cutting his teeth around the blues scene followed, leading to the Errol Linton gig, with whom he opened up for The Blind Boys of Alabama, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and Dr. John.
He also became Morcheeba’s keyboard player around this time, recording on their influential Big Calm album; and pursued various beat-driven projects around the city whilst picking up another blues driven musical ‘day’ job with tribute band The Rollin’ Stoned. He had a long touring stint with London’s The Fallen Heroes too, where he met Iko’s saxophone genius Tony Rico.
Through his regular piano solo slot at the legendary Black Gardenia club in Soho he became friends with Paloma Faith, with whom he records and tours all over the world as part of her regular band.
**Late Night Live Show** – Dom Pipkin and The Ikos 9:00pm-11:30pm
*** Late Dj set – Dj Dan Healy 11:30pm until 3am
To book a table for dinner please email info@100wardourst.com or call 0207 314 4000.
