Her latest project is ‘Organik’ which features Pete Whittaker on organ and Gary Hammond on congas/percussion. Their first album is released 10 July 2026.
‘This is definitely a trio to catch on tour if you can – jazz with soul to burn.‘
Duarte Figueira, UK Jazz News May 2025
Deirdre continues to tour and record with ARQ | Alison Rayner Quintet. They’ve released four highly acclaimed albums, were winners of Best UK jazz group in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards and Best small group in the British Jazz Awards.
Deirdre won the public vote for Best Guitarist at the 2019 British Jazz Awards and in 2020 was awarded Services to Jazz with Blow the Fuse at the Parliamentary Jazz Awards. In 2025, ARQ won the Presto Music jazz recording of the year for SEMA4.
Deirdre also plays with Carol Grimes, PICNIC featuring Annie Whitehead, Sea Change, Electric Landladies and guests regularly at Ronnie Scott’s and other UK jazz clubs.
Deirdre has played with legendary guitarist Tal Farlow, studied in America with Mick Goodrick, toured with Jamaican composer Marjorie Whylie, played in festivals from Mexico to Warsaw leading her own group, founded Blow the Fuse with Alison Rayner in 1989 and has presented regularly on BBC Radio 3.
Deirdre has written seven books on guitar playing, was head of the guitar syllabus for the Rockschool exam series and presented her own radio show on Jazz London Radio.