John Dankworth

by Ron WynnMost of the world knows Dankworth best as Cleo Laines longtime husband and accompanist, but hes been a steady, if not especially inventive player for many decades. He started his career in novelty and traditional ensemble called The Garbage Men led by Freddy Mirfield. Dankworth studied at the Royal Academy of Music from 1944 - 1946, then took playing jobs on transatlantic liners in order to come to America and hear jazz. He switched to alto sax in the late 40s, aand in 1948 was a founding member of the Club Eleven. He began the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1950, and from 1953 to 1964 led a large jazz band featuring his wife Cleo Laine. A numbe of top players passed through, among them Derek Smith, Alan Branscombe, Danny Moss, Peter King, Ronnie Ross and current comic/actor Dudley Moore. Dankworth became Laines music director in 1971 and trimmed the band down to 10 pieces. Then in the early 80s he formed a touring quintet. Dankworths profile as a composer is bigger than as a player; hes written operatic works, pieces for a jazz band with symphony orchestra and film scores. He and Laine formed The Wavendon Allmusic Plan, a cultural organization attracting international performers from every sphere appearing in its 300 seat concert hall, in 1969. Dankworth has also done hundreds of lectures and conducted classes, workshops and seminars. He was honored for his contributions to jazz in England in 1974.