Nigel Hitchcock facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nigel Hitchcock
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On stage with Mark Knopfler in Dresden, Germany, 4 July 2013
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| Background information | |
| Born | 4 January 1971 Rustington, England |
| Genres | Jazz, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1982–present |
Nigel Hitchcock (born on January 4, 1971) is a super talented English jazz saxophonist. He plays the saxophone and has worked with many famous musicians.
Contents
About Nigel Hitchcock
Early Life and Musical Start
Nigel started playing the alto saxophone when he was just eight years old. When he was 11, in 1982, he and his older brother Clive joined the National Youth Jazz Orchestra. This is a special group for young, talented jazz musicians.
After only one year, Nigel became the main alto saxophone player. He held this important spot for five years! During this time, the orchestra traveled and played with famous singers like Vic Damone, Buddy Greco, and Al Martino.
Becoming a Professional Musician
When Nigel was 16, he moved to London. This is where he began his career as a "session musician." A session musician is someone who plays instruments for recordings, like on albums, TV shows, or movies, without being a permanent band member. Nigel recorded music for TV commercials, movie soundtracks, and even played solos on pop songs.
In 1989, Nigel joined a cool saxophone group called Itchy Fingers. The band toured all over Europe and South-East Asia for a year and a half. With Itchy Fingers, Nigel won three important jazz awards:
- The Schlitz award for a rising star
- The Cleo Laine Personal Award for best young musician
- The Pat Smythe (pianist) Trust award
After this, he decided to go back to being a pop and session musician.
Playing with Famous Artists
Nigel has played with many well-known artists. Some of these include Tom Jones, Wet Wet Wet, Ray Charles, Robbie Williams, and Mark Knopfler. He has also released three solo albums of his own music. His first album, Snakeranch Sessions, came out in 1997. Later, he released SmootHitch in 2013 and Hitchgnosis in 2019. These last two were released on his own music label, Eight Inch Clock.
Nigel Hitchcock continues to play and record music today, sharing his amazing saxophone skills with the world.
