Saxophonist Jamie O’Donnell has been working as a performer and educator since attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1992. He took lessons with Jean Toussaint, Bob Martin and Rick Margitza. For the last 20 years he has traveled to New York and Rome as a student of Jazz pianist Barry Harris, delving deeply into the music of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell.
Known as a player firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, Jamie has performed with many fine musicians including Gareth Lockrane, Gwilym Simcock, Matt Fishwick, Bob Martin, Anita Wardell, Robert Anchipolovsky and many others. Most recently, Jamie was performing at Ronnie Scott’s alongside fellow alto players Greg Abate (US) and Alan Barnes in a tribute to the late, great saxophonist (and Jamie’s hero) Phil Woods. He is a founder member of the Paradise Festival in Cyprus and his own quartet play regularly at festivals around Europe.
As an educator, Jamie currently teaches jazz at the Hall School in Hampstead. As part of the Association of Music in International schools, he led student combos in Kuala Lumpur, Rome, The Hague and other cities around the world. In 2008, Jamie received a commission to compose a piece for an International Honor Jazz Band at the International School of Luxembourg.
Jamie has a huge passion for playing and for teaching and he is proud to count a number of professionals amongst his past students.