Our tutors are chosen for their skills in teaching and inspiring adult learners. Â
Here is a list of our 2020 tutors.
Our tutors are chosen for their skills in teaching and inspiring adult learners. Â
Here is a list of our 2020 tutors.
Our tutors are chosen for their skills in teaching and inspiring adult learners.
Here is a list of our 2020 tutors.
Tutors and Course Director
Our group tutors for 2026 are:
Denny Ilett (guitar), Steve Waterman (Trumpet), Simon Allen (Saxophone) and Karen Sharp (Saxophone)
Other specialist tutors may be brought in to cover instrument specific and improvisation sessions.
Our course director is Andy Crowdy who moves between the groups to help and advise.
Andy Crowdy
Course Director
Andy is one of the UK’s top jazz bass players. He has been touring with Joe Brown and continues to work with Moscow Drug Club.
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He plays for John Etheridge’s Sweet Chorus and Christian Garrick as well as leading Gypsy Jazz guitarists such as Angelo DeBarre, Fapy Lafertin and Gary Potter. He has toured Europe, Australia and the USA with Lillian Boutte performing at festivals and jazz clubs. His interests stretch from Jazz to Folk, Rock to Classical and currently teaches guitar at Caldicott School. Andy is leading the workshop and will spend time in each group assisting the tutors.
Denny Ilett
Group Tutor
Denny Ilett has been a regular tutor for the Henley Jazz Workshop and we are delighted that he is returning for 2026, not only for the summer course, but also for two seperate Guitar days. He has been a professional jazz and blues guitarist for 40 years. In that time he has travelled the world with artists such as Lillian Boutté (New Orleans Official Musical Ambassador), Pee Wee Ellis (James Brown & Van Morrison), Paul Jones (Manfred Mann & The Blues Band) and Fred Wesley (James Brown, Ray Charles and Count Basie).
Denny is also an experienced teacher working for the International Guitar Foundation, Bristol University, Bath Spa University as well as being a regular contributor to Guitarist magazine and online teaching resource JTC Guitar.
Steve Waterman
Group Tutor
We are pleased to welcome Steve Waterman back to our course - a former native of Henley! Steve is one of the top British jazz trumpet players both at home and on the international scene. He began his career while studying at Trinity College Of Music, and since then has worked regularly on the British, European and International jazz scene. Steve has toured Europe playing at many of the major Jazz Festivals with the Carla Bley Big Band and has regularly played and recorded with Andy Sheppard, Tony Coe, Victor Mendoza, Graham Collier, Mike Garrick, Don Weller, Alan Barnes and more. He is a professor of Jazz Trumpet at Trinity College of Music in London and visiting Jazz Trumpet specialist at The Royal Northern College Of Music and The Welsh College Of Music And Drama. Steve runs his own Annual Contemporary Big Band Jazz Weekend with Alan Barnes, and also teaches on many summer jazz courses and has conducted numerous Trumpet master classes and workshops ranging in size from small groups to big bands throughout the UK and in Spain, Finland, Latvia, South Africa, and Cuba.
Simon Allen
Group Tutor
This will be Simon's second year at the Jazz Workshop and we welcome him back. Simon began his career with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and the Pendulum Jazz Orchestra, performing alongside the likes of Jazz Stars Art Themen, Gerard Presencer, Jamie Cullum and Peter King.
After being a winner in the Daily Telegraph ‘Young Jazz’ competition, and a finalist in the ‘Young Jazz Musician of the Year’, Simon gained a place at the Royal Academy of Music, and was selected to join UK drummer Clark Tracey’s acclaimed Quintet, winning further awards and touring the UK over 7 years.
Simon is also a member of the Laurence Cottle All Star Big Band, and has worked with Colin Towns Mask Orchestra for the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Matthew Herbert Big Band, touring around Europe, Japan and China. He has recently been performing with Jazz-Funk band Incognito, and has appeared at major UK venues and festivals including Ronnie Scott’s, the Barbican and Brecon Jazz Festival, and worked with an astonishing array of top musicians from the jazz and pop world. Between 2005-2013 Simon was featured in the late Stan Tracey CBE’s various groups, and is featured on his final two quartet recordings, as well as octet and big band album releases. Simon appeared on Jools Holland’s ‘Later’ TV show performing a track from the album ‘Senior Moment’.
Outside of jazz, Simon has backed Phil Collins, Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney, and has recorded and played live with Robbie Williams, Beverley Knight, Katie Melua, Jamie Cullum and many others. He is featured on the soundtracks of Tim Burton’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ and Sujoy Ghosh’s ‘Aladdin’, and has played for Strictly Come Dancing UK arena tours.
Simon has released an album under his own name, ‘Any Minute Now – Simon Allen Quintet’, featuring Laurence Cottle, Martin Shaw, Tom Cawley and Mike Bradley.
In 2014 Simon was appointed Head of Jazz at The Purcell School for Young Musicians, and has tutored students at all the major UK Conservatoires including the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Trinity Laban College of Music.
Karen Sharp
Group Tutor
Karen has been a regular tutor on the Jazz Workshop and we are delighted she will be with us again in 2026. A prominent figure on the UK Jazz scene since 2000, Karen is well known and admired for her melodic, full-toned saxophone playing, winning the British Jazz Awards for best tenor saxophonist on numerous occasions and appearing regularly as a nominee in the rising star category of the Downbeat Critics Poll.
​Karen’s career began with a three year stint playing in Humphrey Lyttelton’s band, playing tenor and baritone sax. During the same period she also established herself as a band leader and soloist, recording a handful of albums and working alongside musicians such as John and Jacquie Dankworth, Ken Peplowski, Jeremy Pelt, Nikki Iles, Tina May, Alan Barnes, Warren Vache, Howard Alden and Harry Allen. Karen’s quartet, established in 2012 features Nikki Iles, Dave Green and Steve Brown. In 2019 Karen formed a trio with fellow musicians Simon Thorpe on bass and Colin Oxley on guitar, exploring new sonic possibilities and the ‘space’ that such a line-up inspires. They released a recording, ‘Another Place’ in 2019 and are planning a follow up in 2023. She currently plays regularly with the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra, the Steve Waterman Big Band and the Nikki Iles Jazz Orchestra.
​As well as a performer Karen is also an experienced teacher of jazz and instrumental technique, working with students of all ages. She has taught on the National Youth Jazz Collective Summer Courses and is in demand as a guest tutor with youth big bands across the country. Karen is currently working as an ensemble and improvisation coach with the Oxford Music Service Big Band programme.
For more information see karensharp.co.uk