Leonard Skeat (9 February 1937 – 9 March 2021) was a British[1] jazz double-bassist, and the younger brother of Bill Skeat, a saxophone player (1926–1999).[2][3]
Len Skeat | |
|---|---|
 Len Skeat at Upwell Jazz Club, 2020 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Leonard Skeat |
| Born | 9 February 1937 East London, England |
| Died | 9 March 2021 (aged 84) |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument | Double bass |
| Years active | 1960s–2021 |
Biography
editHe was born in East End of London, and worked with the Ted Heath band.[2] During the 1970s, he was in demand and almost resident at the Pizza Express Jazz Club,[2] and Pizza on the Park Jazz Club (closed 2010) in London. He was a member of the band, Velvet.[4]
Skeat recorded with Mel Tormé, Ben Webster, Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Scott Hamilton, Helen Merrill, Lou Rawls, Harry Edison, Denny Wright, Digby Fairweather, Spike Robinson, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Stéphane Grappelli,[5] Dick Morrissey, Bill Watrous, and Randy Sandke. He was also a member of the Eddie Thompson Trio and Charly Antolini's Jazz Power.
Discography
editWith Charly Antolini
- 1989 Cookin' (L+R)
- 1990 Charly Antolini Meets Dick Morrissey
- 1993 Right-On (Bell)
With Bud Freeman
- 1980 The Dolphin Has A Message
With Spike Robinson
- 1984 Spike Robinson-Eddie Thompson Trip/At Chesters Volumes 1 & 2 (Hep)
- 1986 In Town with Elaine Delmar (Hep)
- 1987 The Gershwin Collection (Hep)
With Bill Watrous
- 1982 Bill Watrous in London
References
edit- ^ "RIP Len Skeat (1937 -2021)". Londonjazznews.com. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 400. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
- ^ Len Skeat Musical Biography Jazzsteps.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ Len Skeat Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
- ^ Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Priestley, Brian (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-84353-256-9.