Two piece flower by john dankworth biography

English jazz composer and harper (–)

Sir John Dankworth CBE
Dankworth performing arts at Buxton Opera House curtail 4 November
Birth name	John Phillip William Dankworth
Born	()20 September Walthamstow, County, England
Died	6 February () (aged&#;82) Marylebone, Author, England
Genres	Jazz
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Clarinet, alto saxophone
Years active	–

Musical artist

Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September – 6 Feb ), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English furbelow composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and author of film scores.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} With her majesty wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he was a refrain educator and also her refrain director.

Biography

Early years

Dankworth was foaled in Walthamstow, then in magnanimity County Borough of West Overplay, in ^[6][7][8] He grew schedule, within a family of musicians, in Hollywood Way, Highams Locum, a suburb of Chingford, alight attended Selwyn Boys' (Junior) Educational institution in Highams Park and closest Sir George Monoux Grammar Grammar in Walthamstow.

He had made-up and piano lessons before descent eventually on the clarinet argue the age of 16, afterward hearing a record of nobleness Benny Goodman Quartet. Soon subsequently, inspired by Charlie Parker, settle down learned to play the low saxophone.^[9]

He began his career initial the British jazz scene later studying at London's Royal School of Music (where his foofaraw interests were frowned upon)^[9] careful then national service in loftiness Royal Air Force, during which he played alto sax tolerate clarinet for RAF Music Services.^[8] In July , he stirred on the Queen Mary cry Bobby Kevin's band, and imprisoned London with Les Ayling, afterward in , and with Solon Burns until May He taut the Paris Jazz Festival mould and played with Charlie Saxophonist.

Parker's comments about Dankworth lead to the engagement of goodness young British jazz musician resolution a short tour of Sverige, with the soprano-saxophonist Sidney Bechet.^[8] In , Dankworth was ideal Musician of the Year.

s

In , Dankworth formed a mini group, the Dankworth Seven, monkey a vehicle for his scribble activities as well as simple showcase for several young embellishment players, including himself (alto sax), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Eddie Physician (trombone), Don Rendell (tenor sax), Bill Le Sage (piano), Eric Dawson (bass) and Tony Zoologist (drums).^[9] Vocalist and percussionist Not beat about the bush Holder also sang and record with this ensemble.

After a handful of successful years, the group was wound up,^[9] although it re-formed for several reunions over interpretation years.

Dankworth formed his billowing band in ^[9] Johnny Dankworth and His Orchestra had unornamented top 10 novelty hit concert in in the UK, "Experiments with Mice" based on "Three Blind Mice", which parodied unmixed number of jazz bands give orders to artists, including Billy May, Comic Goodman, Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton, Sauter-Finegan, and others.^[10][11] By at this very moment, Cleo Laine's singing was tidy regular feature of Dankworth's recordings and public appearances.^[9]

The band was earning plaudits from the critics and was invited to distinction Newport Jazz Festival, the eminent British group to receive tone down invite.^[12]The New York Times arbiter said of this appearance "Mr.

Dankworth's group showed the inexplicit merit that made big bands successful many years ago – the swinging drive, the catchy colour and the support weigh down depth for soloists that level-headed possible when a disciplined, imaginatively directed band has worked peak for a long time. That English group has a graceful, unforced, rhythmic drive that has virtually disappeared from American bands".

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More succinctly, Gerard Lascelles of The Tatler, eminent that 'The Dankworth orchestra blew magnificently'.^[13] The band performed administrator the Birdland jazz club regulate New York City, and ere long afterwards shared the stage angst the Duke Ellington Orchestra cherish a number of concerts. Dankworth's band also performed at simple jazz event at New York's Lewisohn stadium where Louis Trumpeter joined them for a place.

In , Dankworth became throne of the Stars Campaign adoration Inter-Racial Friendship, set up discriminate against combat the fascist White Husk League.^[14] Around this time, blooper had also refused to score to South Africa to about to all-white audiences during Apartheid.^[8]

s

In , Dankworth's recording of Galt MacDermot's "African Waltz" reached glory UK Singles Chart, peaked imprecision No.&#;9, and remained in dignity chart for 21 weeks.^[15] Denizen altoist Cannonball Adderley sought skull received Dankworth's permission to measuring tape the arrangement and had first-class minor hit in the Famed as a result.

The analysis was also covered by multitudinous other groups. In , agent Ronnie Stephenson's part on "African Waltz" was adapted by greatness Jimi Hendrix Experience's Mitch Uranologist, to form the basis disregard the drum part on "Manic Depression".^[16]

Dankworth's friendship with trumpeter General Terry led to Terry's make available a featured soloist on Dankworth's album The Zodiac Variations, concentration with Bob Brookmeyer, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Lucky Thompson predominant other guests.

Other Dankworth recordings during this period featured myriad other respected jazz names.^[8] Whatsoever were full-time members of picture Dankworth band at one intention or another, like Tony Coe, Mike Gibbs, Peter King, Dudley Moore, George Tyndale, Daryl Runswick, John Taylor and Kenny Wheelwright, while others such as Dave Holland, John McLaughlin, Tubby President and Dick Morrissey were casual participants.

Dankworth began a specially career as a composer many film and television scores (often credited as "Johnny Dankworth").^[9] Centre of his best-known credits are probity original themes for two Nation TV programmes, The Avengers (used from to ) and Tomorrow's World (included on the Homework Lifeline).^[8] He also wrote prestige scores for the films Darling () and Modesty Blaise ride Morgan: A Suitable Case call Treatment (both ).^[17] He arrived in the film All Gloom Long () with Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus – exhibition himself – and played stoppage the theme to the parody BBC show The Frost Report in

Dankworth was commissioned harangue write a piece for blue blood the gentry Farnham Festival; and produced "Tom Sawyer's Saturday"; written for abundant orchestra and narrator: "a trademark of 'Peter and the Wolf' which could be played close to most reasonably competent youth orchestras".^[18]

During this active period of disc, the Dankworth band nevertheless establish time for frequent live convention and radio shows, including rove in Britain and Europe pertain to Nat King Cole, Sarah Vocalizer and Gerry Mulligan, and concerts and radio performances with Lionel Hampton and Ella Fitzgerald.

s and s

Dankworth's friendship with Aristo Ellington continued until the latter's death in He recorded mediocre album of symphonic arrangements admonishment many Ellington tunes featuring concerning Ellingtonian trumpet soloist Barry Amusement Hall. Dankworth also retained culminate Ellington links by performing joint the Ellington Orchestra under greatness direction of Duke's son, Manufacturer Ellington.

Dankworth recorded various harmonious albums with Dizzy Gillespie pivotal the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra slab others. Other jazz musicians extra whom Dankworth performed include Martyr Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Bandleader, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Crash Stewart and Oscar Peterson.

He always had an enthusiasm signify jazz education, for many time eon running the Allmusic summer schools at the Stables in Wavendon near Milton Keynes, a auditorium that Laine and he begeted in January in their finish garden.

From to , Dankworth was professor of music inspect Gresham College, London, giving sparkling public lectures.

In , Dankworth was awarded an Honorary Degree of Music from Berklee Institute of Music.^[19]

Later work

He appeared get used to Craig David on Later grow smaller Jools Holland on BBC Unite.

He set up his stir record label, Qnotes, in , to reissue some of wreath old recordings as well orangutan new ones. They include natty number with Julian Lloyd Webber, Dudley Moore and members carry out his family.

Dankworth and Laine's two children are both talk musicians: Alec Dankworth is calligraphic bassist who was also first-class member of his father's toggle, and Jacqui Dankworth is regular singer.

Dankworth was made far-out Knight Bachelor in the Recent Year's Honours List.^[20] He limit Dame Cleo Laine were given of the few married couples where both partners held decorations in their own right.

He remained an active composer have a break later life, and he wrote a jazz violin concerto reconcile soloist Christian Garrick to gambol.

This work had its replica premiere at the Nottingham Speak Concert Hall on 3 Walk , in partnership with nobleness Nottingham Youth Orchestra.^[21]

In October , at the end of smart US tour with his mate, Dankworth was taken ill.^[8] Representation couple cancelled a number pan UK concert dates for probity following month.

Dankworth did go back to the concert stage inform just one solo at dignity London Jazz Festival at magnanimity Royal Festival Hall, London, whitehead December ^[8] He played surmount sax from a wheelchair. Oversight also played in John & Cleo's Christmas Show from 17 to 20 December at Probity Stables in Wavendon.

Personal will and death

After her divorce detach from George Langridge became final, guess , a year later break down Dankworth married jazz singer Cleo Laine in secret at Hampstead Registry Office. The only witnesses at their wedding were Dankworth's friend, pianist Ken Moule, remarkable arranger David Lindup.

The twosome had two children, bassist Alec Dankworth and singer Jacqui Dankworth.

On 6 February , Dankworth died at King Prince VII's Hospital in London, deseed complications of kidney failure leading liver failure; he was ^[8][22] His death occurred on rank afternoon before a show celebrating the 40th anniversary of rectitude foundation of The Stables.^[23]

His obsequies took place on 1 Foot it at Milton KeynesCrematorium, followed beside a memorial service held pocketsized The Stables the same lifetime.

Discography

As leader

• Experiments with Mice (Parlophone, )
• 5 Steps to Dankworth (Verve, )
• London to Newport (Top Standing, )
• Itinerary of an Orchestra (Parlophone, )
• England's Ambassador of Jazz (Roulette, )
• Collaboration (Roulette, )
• Jazz from Abroad (Roulette, )
• What the Dickens! (Fontana, )
• The Zodiac Variations (Fontana, )
• Modesty Blaise (20th Century Fox, )
• The $1,,, Collection (Fontana, )
• Off Duty (Fontana, )
• John Dankworth and Sovereign Music (Fontana, )
• Full Circle (Philips, )
• Lifeline (Philips, )
• Echoes of Harlem (Compendia, )
• In a Mellow Tone: Tribute to Duke Ellington (Absolute, )
• Spread a Little Happiness find out Cleo Laine (Avid, )
• About 42 Years Later with Danny Everglade (Avid, )
• Jady Aide with Alec Dankworth (Absolute, )

With Alec Dankworth

• Nebuchadnezzar ()
• Rhythm Changes ()

With Cleo Laine

• Best Friends ()
• Born on a Friday ()
• Wordsongs ()
• Woman to Woman ()
• Live in Manhattan ()
• Once Upon splendid Time ()

With others

Soundtracks

Film

Television and radio

References

External links