Olly Chalk is an improvising pianist and composer based in South-East London. He grew up in a quiet village in rural Suffolk and was introduced to the music of Fats Waller by his grandad. He later studied Jazz Piano at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Trinity Laban graduating with a First Class Honours and a Distinction respectively. Heralded as 'super creative and different’ by John Escreet, Chalk is a refreshing, iconoclastic voice in contemporary British improvised music.

In 2018, Chalk received the Peter Whittingham Development Award to record a new album featuring New York saxophonist John O’Gallagher who described Chalk as ‘a virtuoso pianist with a compelling and unique musical vision’. Released the following year, 'Scathed Citizens' weaves daring, emotive compositions and explosive improvising. Described as 'ferocious and original' by UK Jazz News, Chalk toured this album twice across the UK, playing 17 dates including Symphony Hall (Birmingham) and Philharmonic Hall (Liverpool).


Never one to sit still, Olly has established a variety of compelling projects in recent years. During the pandemic, Chalk explored new sonic territory through the recording and self-release of ‘golden', ‘pseudo' and 'one eye shut to the breaking waves’; three albums which explore distinctly ethereal worlds scored for voice, brass, synths and solo piano. Chalk co-leads Dornbusch/Chalk/Glaser, a bass-less trio with Berlin-based saxophonist Phillip Dornbusch and drummer Will Glaser; the group have toured twice, performing at LOFT, (Cologne), Donau115 (Berlin) and the Vortex Jazz Club (London). Chalk is also a frequent collaborator with guitarist Daniel Kemshell; the pair have performed a duo concert at Ronnie Scott’s (London) and they released their debut EP ‘Impromptus’ in 2023.



Chalk’s latest release ‘In Those Remotes Stars’, is out on Resonant Postcards in January 2026. Featuring Ruta Sipola, Daniel Kemshell, Hugo Piper and Corrie Dick, this bold and cinematic album features innovative, other-worldly and warmly heartfelt song-writing.

Going forward, Olly is looking ahead to working with his quartet Houndsbleat. Established during the pandemic, this group have performed sell-out shows at London Jazz Festival and will be playing in both the UK and Europe in 2026. Described as ‘channeling the spirit of Cecil Taylor’ by The JazzMann, free improvisation cuts through the veins of this unique and demanding music that feature moments of stark beauty and rough edges.


An in-demand sideman, Chalk regularly features as a prominent creative voice in concerts and recordings. He performs regularly alongside composer Olivia Murphy, whose immensely ambitious large ensemble projects ‘Open World Suite’ and ‘Siren Cycle’ debuted at Pizza Express Jazz Club (London) and Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2025. Additionally, his playing on Sam Eastmond’s John Zorn’s Bagatelles Vol.16. (Tzadik) was highly commended and the album was later hailed as Jazzwise Critic’s Album of the Year and Downbeat Best of 2023. This group has performed at Cafe OTO and Festival Internacional Cervantino in Guanajuato, Mexico. Alongside his creative work, Olly is a passionate educator and works as a Jazz Piano tutor at Centre for Young Musicians and Trinity Laban.