Oli Hayhurst graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 2000. Whilst still a student under the late Jeff Clyne he was touring with Gilad Atzmon and Cara Dillon.

In 2006 he was featured on Zoe Rahman's Mercury nominated album, 'Melting Pot'. He continued to play with Zoe until 2011 playing at festivals throughout Europe and recording a further three albums. This was the first of frequent pairings with Gene Calderazzo which have been continued in the bands of Julian Siegel and Pharoah Sanders. As a member of Ray Gelato’s Giants from 2008-15 he toured extensively and held annual residencies at Ronnie Scott’s in London and the Blue Note Milan.

He was been a regular in Pharoah Sanders’ quartet for European dates from 2012-2022 playing alongside Kurt Rosenwinkel, Nicholas Payton, Dan Tepfer, Joe Farnsworth, Gene Calderazzo and William Henderson. The quartet played headline concerts at festivals all over Europe. He is also a member of Cockney Rebel and Steve Harley’s acoustic band and features on the album ‘Uncovered’.

He has played on over 70 albums and worked with artists as diverse as Melanie C, Vanessa Mae, Dionne Warwick, Bill McHenry, Maureen Lipman, Steve Hackett, Lau, Alison Balsom, Kirk Lightsey, Maria Ewing, Alan Broadbent, Bobby Wellins, Reem Kelani, Collabro, Thomas Lang, Il Divo, Kit Downes, Sheridan Smith, Bob Monkhouse, Jacqui Dankworth and both Michael Rosens, the poet and the saxophonist.