new orleans @ temperance | Dom Pipkin "The soul of New Orleans in the UK"

Dom Pipkin - piano from London, soul from New Orleans 

Alongside a glittering session career (David Byrne, Ray Davies, Morcheeba), piano player and songwriter Dom Pipkin has been described by Blues in Britain as “one of the world’s greatest exponents of New Orleans piano”.   He first discovered the New Orleans style in the early 90s, and has gone on to become a regular visitor and performer in that city, with appearances that include the highly acclaimed “Piano Night” and the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival.  He is a regular fixture on the European blues and boogie Woogie festival circuit having played 1000’s of club and theatre, radio and TV dates in a career spanning nearly three decades.  Jazz star Jamie Cullum says “I can’t hold a candle to this guy”.  

Pipkin developed a particular specialisation for the unique flavours of maverick New Orleans piano star James Booker (1939 - 1983) capturing the player’s trademark combination of driving blues married with rhapsodic classical influences.  He was invited to play at the world premiere of the documentary “Bayou Maharajah” at SXSW in 2014, and at multiple subsequent screenings of the film.  

Pipkin regularly performs and records in New Orleans, and has shared stages with legends such as Allen Toussaint , Dr John  and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.  Grammy award winner Jon Cleary invites him to jam whenever he’s in town.  In live shows Pipkin mixes his own compelling songwriting with blues and Big Easy classics that "..cooks up a steaming musical stew that has the crowd dancing and clapping for more"  Classic Rock Blues Magazine.  

During Covid he performed more than 120 broadcast shows from his home and completed his solo album “C’mon Sunshine” - an all-original collection of songs on the subject of hope, jammed full of spicy New Orleans and blues piano styles.   The album “Live At The Temple” followed in 2023 - a spontaneous mix of two live sets at London’s Temple Of Art And Music.  Alongside his own career, Pipkin travels the world with the band Morcheeba (with whom he has been associated since the bands inception in 1996).  He is also active as an educator, running a highly popular New Orleans jam session in London, and writes articles based around keyboards for Blues Matters magazine. 

“Dom’s solo shows are a treat – intimate, moving, funky and lively.  A real romp through the heart and soul of New Orleans piano and beyond”  - Kino-Teatr  

“one of the world’s greatest exponents of New Orleans piano” - Blues In Britain

“When Dom plays the piano magic happens” – Paloma Faith

“…a highly impressive pianist”    Blues In Britain magazine

“A great piano player”    Andy Kershaw

“Dom Pipkin flails the organ to within a millimetre of Jimmy Smth and just dig that almighty piano.”    Straight No Chaser magazine  (Max Reinhardt)

“A genius”  James Bond composer, David Arnold 

"..cooks up a steaming musical stew that has the crowd dancing and clapping for more" 

Classic Rock Blues Magazine (live review at 100 Club, London)

“I can’t hold a candle to this guy.  He’s a great piano player”  

Jamie Cullum, live on Radio 2

“I really love your stuff.  I hope we play together again soon!”     

(Grammy and W.C Handy award nominated)    Eric Bibb

“You’ve been quite the revelation!”   

Paul Jones (Manfred Mann, The Blues Band), BBC Radio 2

“..lighting up the British blues and RnB scene at the moment, very very good indeed!”  Paul Jones on Radio 2 again 

“Love your piano playing”  Paul Weller

“I love your band!  You get me singing and dancing”    

Paul Sanchez,  multiple award-wining New Orleans songwriter/ artist

“Dom brings the whole New Orleans thing to the UK.  So good!”    

Zigaboo Modeliste of international supergroup The Meters and 

godfather of New Orleans funk drumming”

“Have you heard this guy play James Booker?”   

Tom McDermott, New Orleans piano star

Host or Publisher Temperance