';
Deirdre
Cartwright
70th
Birthday Celebration & ORGANIK Album Launch
on Wednesday
15th July at Pizza Express Soho
£28.00 BOOKINGS → https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/deirdre-cartwright
Join
Deirdre Cartwright as she celebrates turning 70 in a truly memorable evening,
marking the album release of her new trio ORGANIK. “This is definitely a trio
to catch on tour if you can – jazz with soul to burn.”- Duarte Figueira, UK
Jazz News
Deirdre
Cartwright is a multi award-winning guitarist and composer who became well
known presenting the BBC TV’s ground-breaking series ‘Rockschool’. In the 1980s
she also played with the all women Afro-Latin Jazz group The Guest Stars,
recording three albums and touring in 17 countries.
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.
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.
Band
Lineup:
ORGANIK TRIO
Deirdre Cartwright (guitar)
Pete Whittaker (organ)
Gary Hammond (congas/percussion)
ROCKSCHOOL
Geoff Nichols (drums)
Henry Thomas (bass guitar)
Alastair Gavin (keyboards)
Chris Lent
Special Guest: Alison Rayner (double bass)
Deirdre’s Website https://www.deirdrecartwright.com/