Denny Ilett, Guitar with Terry Hutchins Quartet

Remarkably versatile and expansive guitarist/singer, encompassing swing, bebop, blues, rock and everything between, Denny is equally acclaimed for his thrilling guitar playing, smooth vocalising and appearances at Ronnie Scott’s fronting his jazz salute to Jimi Hendrix with the Electric Lady Big Band.

Denny has done a lot of touring all over the world: all over Europe; Australia; the States; the Middle East. Playing his guitar in different bands; For fifteen years now I’ve worked with a wonderful singer from New Orleans called Lillian Boutté. She’s the official musical ambassador for New Orleans; a title only previously held by Louis Armstrong so it just goes to show you how amazing she is. He worked with the great Pee Wee Ellis who was James Brown’s musical director for a few years and was also Van Morrison. 

Denny is extremelyversatile and also likes to play a sort of gypsy swing style; a bit like Django Reinhardt in a band I have called Moscow Drug Club. They have done a lot of touring in the UK and some on the continent too. Additionally he has toured with his good friend James Morton’s band Pork Chop which features Ian Mathews; the great drummer from Kasabian.

One of Denny's favorite things to do is play with other guitar players. He has played with great Jazz players like Jim Mullen  John Etheridge; Martin Taylor and recently from New York, Howard Alden. 

Denny comes from something of a musical family, his father was a trumpet player. Denny started off on the trumpet when he was about 8 years old and when he got to 16 he remebers hearing a strange noise coming from his brother’s bedroom and it was the first notes of Foxy Lady by Jimi Hendrix and, suddenly blown away and I had to get a guitar. I put the trumpet in the case and it hasn’t come out since.

“A knock-out player… soulful and jazz-tinged” Guitarist

“Comprehensive mastery of the guitar” The Whitman Review