“In particular, keyboardist Cliff Slapper provides decorative flourishes,always tasteful and atmospheric…†MOJO, June 2006
“sublime piano…is handled by…Clifford Slapper†Unpeeled magazine
“…Clifford Slapper to the fore on the blues/jazz Lift Up Your Name that has some Waitsean charms, better than Rodney Stewart…the choice pianist in Mr Slapper and the tight arrangements at work – like a strumming Jeff Buckley…†gigwise.com
“…has some cracking piano chords so Mr. Clifford Slapper I applaud you for your piano skills…†contactmusic.com
Ballrooms of Mars-Katherine Ellis & Clifford Slapper
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPm4q9Du5Q0
Live Recording at Cafe De Paris, London 2007 for Marc Bolan night
September 2007Featured pianist at "Bolanesque" Bolan's Birthday Boogie event at Cafe De Paris, playing/MD'ing for Boy George and accompanying Katherine Ellis, Pam Hogg and others.
June 2007
Played piano at Royal Festival Hall as part of Jarvis Cocker’s Meltdown Festival programme for 2007.
April 2007
Recorded piano and organ for tracks on forthcoming new album by Stereo MCs.
March 2007
Played at Forum Kentish Town with Finley Quaye as part of Anti-Slavery event to mark 200th anniversary of abolition of slave trade. With Razorlight, Supergrass, Samantha Morton, Sadie Frost, Rhys Ifans.
Nov 2006
Co-produced charity Christmas CD in conjunction with LBC Radio/Joe Henson/Air Edel Music
Oct-Dec 2006
Staged series of performance club nights together with Jay Landesman.
Sept 2006
Worked with David Bowie and Ricky Gervais on Extras Series 2, BBC TV/HBO, providing the piano part for the "Pug Nose Face" song.
March 2006
Co-wrote and played piano and organ on “Ghost Flight†(One Little Indian Records), the debut solo album by Robert Love, lead singer with Alabama 3, who provided the theme music to HBO TV’s The Sopranos.("Below The Wire", now playing on this page, is one of the co-writes from that album, and also features organ and piano by Clifford Slapper.)
Jan 2003
Created a live soundtrack performance, together with extraordinary German singer Billie Ray Martin, to accompany Polanski’s classic film Repulsion. This unique event took place at both the Electric Cinema on London’s Portobello Road, and at the ICA.
“Accompanied by a solitary keyboard player, the extremely talented Clifford Slapper…Billie visibly delighted her fans with acoustic versions of songs from her repertoire including re-workings of Electribe 101’s “You’re Walking†and “Talking With Myself†and a beautifully stripped down version of her club classic “Your Loving Armsâ€, which would surely be a huge hit all over again if this touching rendition were to be releasedâ€
www.overyourhead.co.uk
“Went to see Billie Ray Martin perform at the Electric Cinema in Portobello Road. It was just her armed with keyboard player Clifford Slapper (marvellous) doing the soundtrack over Roman Polanski’s horror classic “Repulsionâ€. It was sublime!†Mark Moore DJ/producer,
www.trustthedj.com/MarkMoore
July 2002
Staged and played at Serge Gainsbourg tribute night at The Garage which attracted a major London-based French audience of 500+
June 2002
Toured as keyboardist with Dead Or Alive to Tokyo, San Francisco on their last ever dates as a band
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Classically trained. After obtaining a First Class Honours Degree in History from London University, embarked on research work in social history and taught across many different subject areas, including French, History, English, Music and Maths, whilst developing career as pianist.
Has since become one of most sought after musicians throughout London and beyond, as a solid yet inspirational pianist/keyboardist, accompanist, arranger and MD, encompassing a very wide range of styles and with an extensive repertoire of over a thousand songs crossing all styles. He has a reputation for being especially responsive to audiences at solo piano live events, being able to “read the room†and respond accordingly.
Has also been responsible as an agent for many programmes of live music, overseeing every stage with great attention to detail, from auditioning and artist development to equipment provision and budgeting. Clients have included the Pitcher And Piano chain, Teatro, Chelsea Village Hotel and dozens of others.
“Thank you very much for arranging everything, the band are very good and did an excellent job last night…Kind regards, David Harriott, Pink Panther Events Ltd†15.02.06
Stages regular events to promote live performance of every kind, at various venues including Arts Theatre Club, Soho, London, with cutting-edge music, dance, spoken word & multimedia performances.
Performers at “Slappers Club†events have included Fran Landesman, Queen Adrena, Jackson Scott, Bishi, Flesh For Lulu, Urban Voodoo Machine, Alabama 3, Son Of Dave, Namalee, Shirani, Philip Normal, Billie Ray Martin, The Lovers, Fay Presto, Saltpetre, Salena Saliva Godden, Keith Allen, Mister Solo, David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Boogaloo Stu, Sarah Nixey (Black Box Recorder), Katy Carr, The Rubbish Men…
Slappers Club has also been attended by Johnny Vegas, Natalie Press, Bez, Gavin Turk, Matt Willis, Richard Strange, Bill Drummond
Clifford has played with a great range of artists, including the following:
David Bowie
Jarvis Cocker
Boy George
Joss Stone
Paul Weller
Ian Shaw
Billie Ray Martin
Katherine Ellis
Finley Quaye
Stereo MCs
Badly Drawn Boy
Sarah Jane Morris
Lisa Stansfield
Suggs (Madness)
Jackson Scott
Katharine Blake (Mediaeval Baebes)
Carleen Anderson
Dead Or Alive
Jackie Mason
Keith Allen
Angie Brown
Steve Furst
Oliver Darley
Anita Kelsey
Carmen Cusack
Keziah Jones
Rose Marie
Matt Willis
Anthony Kavanagh
As pianist at special events, Clifford has played for:
Tony Bennett
Jason Donovan
Nick Cave
Beth Orton
Trevor Nunn
Charlotte Rampling
David Furnish
Diana Rigg
Graham Norton
Honor Blackman
Ian McKellan
Stephen Fry
Barbara Windsor
Jeremy Irons
Joanna Lumley
Kathy Burke
Robin Cook
Clifford has played performances and residencies at venues including the following:
Bush Hall
Royal Festival Hall
London Fashion Week (Weardowney)
Latutudes Jazz Club, Paris
Poppies Resort, Kho Samui, Thailand
Universe Club, San Francisco
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
100 Club, Oxford Street
Chelsea FC / Chelsea Village Hotel
Shadow Lounge
Soho House
Forum, Kentish Town
The Garage, N1
Too 2 Much/Soho Revue Bar
Electric Cinema, Portobello Road
Gerry’s Club W1
The Ivy, West St WC2
Institute Of Contemporary Arts (ICA), The Mall
Jazz Cafe
Joe Allen, WC2
Bertorellis
Punk, Soho W1
The Marquee Club
Sin, Charing Cross Road, W1
Sanctuary, Greek Street, W1
Kettners Restaurant
Arts Theatre Club, Frith St, London W1
Berners Park Plaza, W1
Browns, St Martin's Lane
French House, W1
Café Royal
No. 5 Cavendish Square
Channel Four annual party at the Cumberland Hotel
Chez Nico at the Grosvenor House Hotel
Chutney Mary, King's Rd, Fulham
The Edge, Soho Square
Heights Restaurant, St. George's Hotel W1
Hotel Intercontinental, Hyde Park Corner
Hurlingham Club, Fulham
Embassy Rooms
Le Coq D’Argent
Le Pont De La Tour
Mezzo
Sartoria
L'Odeon, WC1
Lola's, Islington
LUPO
Magic Circle - special events
National Mobile Phone Awards (annually)
National Newspaper Awards (annually)
Phoenix Theatre Club (previously Shuttleworth's)
Pitcher & Piano (10 different branches)
Regents Park Marriott
Swan Hellenic Cruises (P&O)
Tatty Bogles W1
Teatro
Terrace Restaurant at the Meridien
Tokyo American Club
Turnmills
Various film premiere parties
IBM Conferences
Veeraswamy, Regent Street
Waldorf-Astoria, Strand