Joe Webb (pianist)

Joe Webb
Born
Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
OriginNeath, Wales
GenresJazz
OccupationsMusician, composer, educator
InstrumentsPiano, Hammond organ
Years active2010s–present
LabelsEdition Records, Ubuntu Music

Joe Webb is a British jazz pianist, composer and educator based in London. He leads the Joe Webb Trio, whose album Hamstrings & Hurricanes (2024) was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize.[1][2]

Early life and education

Webb was born in Basingstoke and grew up in Neath, South Wales.[3] He began playing piano at the age of 12 and studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama before moving to London in 2013.[4]

Career

After relocating to London, Webb became active on the city's jazz circuit and performed at venues including Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.[5] He has performed with the London jazz collective Kansas Smitty's House Band.[4]

Webb leads a trio with bassist Will Sach and drummer Sam Jesson. In 2022 he released the album Summer Chill.[4] In 2024 the trio released the EPs Collblanc and SET on Edition Records.[6][7] In October 2024 the trio released the album Hamstrings & Hurricanes,[8] shortlisted for the 2025 Mercury Prize.[1][9]

The Royal Academy of Music announced in 2025 that Webb had joined its faculty as a jazz professor. He has toured with Jamie Cullum and Jools Holland.[10]

Musical style

In an interview with NME, Webb described drawing on influences including 1990s Britpop alongside jazz traditions.[11] All About Jazz noted the album’s incorporation of stride piano and ragtime alongside modern influences.[8]

Discography

As leader

  • Daydreamer (EP, 2019)[12]
  • For Everything Else (EP, 2020)[13]
  • Summer Chill (2022)[4]
  • Collblanc (EP, 2024)[6]
  • SET (EP, 2024)[7]
  • Hamstrings & Hurricanes (2024)[8]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result
2025 Mercury Prize Album of the Year Hamstrings & Hurricanes Nominated[1][9]

References

  1. ^ a b c "2025 Shortlist – Joe Webb: Hamstrings & Hurricanes". Mercury Prize. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  2. ^ "CMAT, Pulp and PinkPantheress among Mercury prize shortlist light on new names". The Guardian. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  3. ^ "NEWS: Crazy Coqs Announce Line-up For Week Long Jazz Festival (Apr 2-8)". London Jazz News. 21 March 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d "Joe Webb – Summer Chill". The Jazzmann. 30 June 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Review: Tord Gustavsen Trio and Joe Webb Trio at the Ronnie Scott's International Piano Trio Festival". London Jazz News. 27 August 2017. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Joe Webb – Collblanc". Edition Records. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b "Joe Webb – SET". Edition Records. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  8. ^ a b c Duggan, Neil (4 October 2025). "Joe Webb: Hamstrings & Hurricanes". All About Jazz. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  9. ^ a b "Pulp, Wolf Alice and CMAT among 2025 Mercury Prize nominees". Reuters. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  10. ^ "Academy Jazz Professor Joe Webb shortlisted for 2025 Mercury Prize". Royal Academy of Music. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  11. ^ "How Oasis, Damian Lewis and Lionel Messi shaped Joe Webb's Mercury Prize nominated 'Hamstrings & Hurricanes'". NME. 11 September 2025. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Daydreamer by Joe Webb". Bandcamp. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
  13. ^ "For Everything Else by Joe Webb". Bandcamp. Retrieved 15 February 2026.