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Simon Spillett, one of Britain’s most prominent jazz figures and Kim Cypher, one of Britain’s most exciting and exuberant musicians join forces to present ‘Unification‘ in collaboration with Highworth Jazz Festival.
This special project is a celebration to mark a milestone anniversary for tenor saxophonist and bandleader Simon Spillett; 30 years on the UK jazz scene. To celebrate this achievement, Simon reached out to saxophonist, vocalist and composer Kim Cypher with the suggestion to put on a collaborative performance and of course, Kim jumped at this exciting opportunity. Highworth Jazz Festival organisers Ray Stephens and Martin Wellstead quickly came onboard, and the date was set for Saturday 7th February.
Firmly established in the UK jazz scene Simon and Kim have very different styles of performance, and this makes for a very interesting and unexpected pairing. As Simon announced on socials: “Now, here’s a gig you didn’t expect to see…”. This unique partnership is working so well, it has also developed into a recording session as part of the project. Simon, Kim and the rest of the band recently recorded some new compositions at the historic Temple Music Studios in London. The studio is owned and run by Ana Gracey, daughter of saxophonist and composer Barbara Thompson MBE and legendary drummer Jon Hiseman, who built the studio in the eighties. Some of the new tracks will be unveiled at the live performance on 7th February.
Kim and Simon in the studio by Ron Milsom
It was wonderful to speak to Kim and Simon about this exciting collaboration and find out a little more!
The world needs unity right now and the timing of your new project couldn’t be better. What does unification mean to you?
SIMON – I think music can bring people together. Borders, nationalities, passports, cultures, politics and religious differences don’t really matter when playing music together. It’s a true force for good.
KIM – Music has a universal power to communicate, connect and unite people. In a world of discontent and with life being stressful and challenging, everyone deserves a moment of escapism. It is so important to bring people together to share something special regardless of anything else that’s going on.
Jazz is the perfect space to explore and to communicate – what message do you hope the audience will take away?
SIMON – Enjoyment. That’s all I’d like an audience to feel. I don’t play to deliver a ‘message’. We get enough of that elsewhere. A gig, to me, should be immersion in itself. If the performance is truly committed it communicates fully.
KIM – I hope the audience will feel positively uplifted and in a happy place. Simon and I share a passion to communicate and connect positively through music, regardless of the style. We are hoping for a wonderful, shared experience demonstrating that compatibility can be found in the most unlikely of places with fellow creatives coming together to merge ideas and creativity as one unified force.
Simon – 30 years is a massive achievement. What led you to decide to reach out to Kim to help you celebrate?
SIMON – I like working with different people. It’s refreshing to see how other musicians approach performing. When Kim and I appeared on the same festival a few years ago I was curious as to why we had two entirely separate audiences, as if one cancelled out the other. Polarities like that are worrying in a music supposedly about freedom. I’d like to see how an audience responds to a gig without ‘marketed’ prejudice of any kind.
Kim with festival organiser Martin Wellstead by Ron Milsom
You both have strong ties with Highworth Jazz Festival. What is it about the festival and the team behind it, that makes it so successful and enjoyable to work with?
SIMON – The festival is built on the enthusiasms of the people who run it. They book what they like and are open minded. Sounds like a formula for success to me! Also, they treat the musicians with respect and allow us the space to play as we wish. I value that very much.
KIM – Festival organisers Ray Stephens and Martin Wellstead are good friends of mine. They are brilliant at supporting live music and they both share a love and passion for jazz (in all its forms). Both Martin and Ray are fellow saxophonists too! I feel honoured to have been part of the journey of Highworth Jazz Festival from the beginning. It is still evolving, with the 3rd Highworth Jazz Festival happening this year on 6th June. The line-up is looking epic!
You have both mentioned that you have different styles of playing and performing, can you tell us about those differences and how you are going to celebrate your individual artistry but also find a blend that forms a unique partnership?
SIMON – I do what I do and Kim does what she does. We both use the same twelve notes! I don’t really like talking about different schools in jazz. I imagine Kim wants to work on her playing just as I do. That’s what I think we share: the passion to improve our instrumental command and musical understanding. All musicians share this goal, I believe.
KIM – The set list has been carefully put together to reflect our different styles, ensuring we each remain true to ourselves whilst meeting somewhere in the middle to unify it all. The combination works really well. Simon and I are actually very similar in many ways, fundamentally we both want the audience to feel the passion in our music and to connect through every note we play. We will both be putting our heart and soul into our performances to ensure we give our very best.
Kim in the studio by Ron Milsom
A performance and new recordings! Can you tell us about the line up for the performance and the recordings and some insights into the material?
SIMON – Kim has written a couple of tunes on which I’ll play. She can tell you far more about the stories behind her themes. And I don’t want to give the game away: all will be revealed at the concert and on the recording!
KIM – The line up for the concert and the recording is basically the Smokey Joe’s Jazz Club team! I co-run a monthly jazz club in Cheltenham with fellow jazz musician friends Alex Steele, Mike Green and hubby Mike Cypher. Simon has been a guest at Smokey Joe’s and he has also performed with the same house band for his own gigs. So, it made perfect sense to keep this project in-house. They are all phenomenal musicians, they know me well and they are some of the nicest people I know, which is very important when embarking on a project like this!
I have written three original tracks, all very different and all with a story to tell. Two of the tracks are the result of spontaneous, inspired composing. I never know when the inspiration is going to strike, but when it does, I need to grab the tune right there and then. It must be fate because one of the tracks has two contrasting sections, one for soprano saxophone and the other for tenor. It lends itself so perfectly to recording with Simon. All will be revealed in due course.
Simon in the studio by Ron Milsom
The third track was composed on request. This is a rather special track paying tribute to somebody who has really championed and supported my music, the one and only David Freeman. This unique track will be premiered on Jazz FM’s ‘Blues & Boogie’ show with David Freeman. David’s request was for a track with some “ebullient tenor blowing” and “unsubtle honking”…obviously my reputation precedes me!!! To be honest though, this is right up my street and, following rehearsal with Simon, David is now in for a treat with two honking tenor saxes.
The live event is on Feb 7th – what can the audience expect?
SIMON – I think they’ll see five musicians on stage being themselves and making some entertaining music together. That’s our aim.
KIM – The audience can expect a lovely warm welcome – I know the Highworth Jazz Festival team will make sure of that. The setting at St. Michael’s church in Highworth is stunning, and the evening promises a lively selection of jazz, Latin, swing, blues and some heartfelt ballads. It is all built around celebrating the milestone 30-year anniversary of Simon working on the UK jazz scene and demonstrating the united force of music to bring people together. We hope people will leave with a spring in their step, feeling positively uplifted by the music and the passion behind every note played.
There are still a few tickets available if anyone would like to join us:
https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/kim-cypher/t-ejkordp
LINE UP
Simon Spillett – Tenor saxophone
Kim Cypher – Saxophones & Vocals
Alex Steele – Piano
Mike Green – Bass
Mike Cypher – Drums
Highworth Jazz Festival website
Last modified: January 29, 2026
