Hugh studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and at the Paris Conservatoire. His 12 year professional career has taken him around the world, working with a great variety of artists and productions.
With wide and far-reaching influences from bebop to electronica, his sound is characterised by bold creativity of harmony and language, a rich tone and a melodic line. Exploring the music of post-bop inspirations such as Freddie Hubbard, Woody Shaw and Tom Harrell, alongside his own compositions and interpretations of tunes in the classic jazz tradition,
His eclectic career has included work with a huge variety of artists. He is currently performing with New York’s The Last Poets, has recently collaborated with Max Cooper and recorded for Jodie Abacus. He’s featured as a soloist on two albums for The Birmingham Jazz Orchestra, toured with Dave Ferris’ 2018 album Alphabets and featured in the trumpet section of the E17 Large Ensemble for the last 7 years, while regularly performing at festivals and venues across the country as a sideman for numerous projects.
He is a member of the Jazz House (Nottinghamshire) Ltd Board and music programmer for the Live at the Libraries monthly gigs that are jointly promoted by Jazz Steps and Inpsire.
Hugh studied on the prestigious Royal Academy of Music jazz degree course with Gerard Presencer on a Full Entrance Scholarship, graduating in 2006 with a 1st class BMus (hons) and LRAM teaching diploma. He was the Academy’s 2005 Scott-Fulbritzer Prize Winner and one of the first Sir Elton John Scholarship holders, studying also at the Paris Conservatoire for one year as part of the Erasmus programme.
