Bass player, pianist, composer and leader, Vicky Tilson is fast establishing herself on the London jazz circuit as a bass player with a difference. With an MMus in Jazz from The Guildhall School of Music & Drama, this Westcountry girl was classically-trained in piano, oboe and double bass whilst at school. A spell of illness and hospitalisation at 15 forced her into a path that diverted her from her musical ambitions and led to a variety of jobs including radio broadcaster, cinema manager/projectionist, television news journalist and operations manager for Transport for London - not to mention a stint training and trialling for the British Army as an officer, although a spell on the assault course at the Regular Commissions Board convinced her to opt for a more sensible path through life.
Despite this unorthodox journey, Vicky has always maintained her passion for, and interest in, music. Whilst recuperating she bought a bass guitar and decided to learn the trade of a rock musician. Moving to London at the age of 23 to study Film and Communication at Middlesex University, Vicky joined Sodium65, a London-based original indie rock band that encouraged her to cut her teeth on live performances at prestigious venues including the Hard Rock Café on Piccadilly, Sound Republic in Leicester Square, The Water Rats in Kings Cross and The Garage in Highbury. Air-play on London’s XFM and BBC Radio followed the release of their debut EP “Don’t You Dareâ€. A spell working with Bad Music Inc. followed with more airplay and a collection of razor-edged songs mocking everything wrong with the world.
However, Vicky’s passion had always been elsewhere in music. Since the age of 14, jazz had become a part of her life and she had always been keen to pursue this. It wasn’t until August 2003 that Vicky was finally able to realise her ambition of learning to play jazz when she attended a residential course run by the eminent performer, composer, leader and teacher Michael Garrick. Armed with her bass guitar, memories of her Dad’s jazz record collection and a passion to succeed, Vicky sailed through her week at Jazz Academy and has been attending ever since. Evening and weekend classes at the City Literary Institute in central London followed, taking in jazz piano, harmony & ear training and woodshedding.
Regular attendance at some of the capital’s jam sessions has seen Vicky play with many top musicians including Brandon Allen, Gene Calderazzo, Ingrid Laubrock, Julian Siegel, Phil Robson, Hans Koller and Liam Noble. A gig with saxophonist Tony Kofi at the Octave Bar in Covent Garden followed in May 2006. Vicky then led a trio at Clerkenwell House in June 2006 featuring British Jazz Legend Michael Garrick on piano and Alan Jackson on drums. In recent years Vicky has also played with Quentin Collins, Bobby Wellins, Henry Lowther, Kate Williams, Allison Neale, Alex Garnett and Gareth Lockrane. She performed her Vortex Jazz Club debut (Dalston, London) with the Kevin Davy Group in October 2007. Vicky also has an RSL Level 3 Diploma with distinction as a Music Educator, having studied part-time with the British Academy of New Music in Bow, East London and is an active teacher as well as performer. Vicky is a member of the E17 Jazz Collective and has already played with Alcyona Mick, Carlos Lopez-Real, Jez Franks, Nick Smalley, and Brigitte Beraha. Having returned from the 2008 Manchester Jazz Festival with The Kevin Davy Group she followed this up with a gig at The Pizza Express, Soho in September and this year's MJF. Vicky is currently leading her own quartet, The VTQ, which has just recorded its debut album and will be out performing this year.
Vicky is available to meet up for plays with other musicians who are keen to try out new ideas.