RIP Kenny Wheeler.........

red indian · Sep 21, 2014

.....who died this week. He was a great inspiration to me when I first came across his music in the early 70's. He was a Jazz trumpet/flugel horn player and a jazz composer of rare style and distinction.

Perhaps his greatest work is an album called (rather matter of factly) "Music for small and large ensembles" which I am proud to say includes a player I have worked with myself some years ago. It has a big band composition on it called "Sweet Time Suite" which is one of my all time favourite recordings. I had the privilege of seeing this band perform the work live back in the 90's. Something I will never forget.

red indian · Sep 21, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myKkvyOxYXA

This is a great track with an all star lineup including keith Jarret. The story told by Wheeler is that Jarrett didnt want to do the session and turned up hours late for it. He just sat down at the piano, refused to speak to anyone and just read the charts straight off first time, including fantastic solos on original material by Wheeler which Jarret could never have seen or heard before. Astonishing musicianship.