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| Gordon Beck... |
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Born in 1935 pianist Gordon Beck trained as a draughtsman / designer in an engineering firm in Hounslow before emigrating to Canada. By 1955 he had become interested in jazz piano listening to George Shearing and Dave Brubeck. Although he had studied classical piano in his last three years at grammar school he had hardly played at all since then and had not had the usual dance band and gig experience that most young musicians had experienced. He was back in England at the end of 1957 and his jazz progress was rapid. He became an instant hit at Ronnie Scott's in the dying years of the "jazz boom" with the bands of Vic Ash/Harry Klein, Bobby Wellins/Ken Wray, Tony Crombie, Tony Kinsey and Bert Courtley. In 1962 he joined Tubby Hayes who rated him very highly and he became Tubby's first choice pianist. This did not provide full time work and Beck played with Tony Kinsey's Quintet from 1963 to 1965 plus commercial studio work, and for a time was MD to the pop singer Susan Maugham. Formed his own trio in 1965, and worked occasionally with Harry South's big band. He met with considerable success with his trio and due to prior commitments was often unable to work with Tubby Hayes although he played in Tubby's big band whenever possible. He started to record with his own trio in 1967 and these albums proved popular enough to lead to more, although often with long periods between. In 1968 he was with Ronnie Scott's Octet. In 1969 he was called to join Phil Wood's European Rhythm Machine. His trio had backed US alto sax man Phil Woods at Ronnie Scott's in 1966/67 and both were impressed with the others abilities. So when the opportunity arose 'Phil called the only other pianist in Europe who could fill the chair'. The group lasted another three and a half years and Beck was elevated to VIP status. This band was successful in Europe and America and Beck's playing was highly praised, but on a three week stay at Ronnie Scott's the group made little impression, playing to relatively small audiences. When the group ended in 1972 Beck was back to square one - 'thinking of packing it all in'. A highly technical musician he needed people of similar calibre around him and inevitably he drifted back into the studios. |
 In 1978 he began to record for the French labels A1 and JMS and achieved success with multi track recording. Beck was active in jazz education during the 1970s and 1980s and continued to work with a trio during 1980s and 1990s including accompanying Helen Merrill on an occasional basis from 1984. In the 1990s he worked extensively in Europe often in a duo or trio situation and became a featured musician at jazz festivals, and continued to record into the 2000s. |
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From the 1970s Gordon Beck made a number of records/cds for European record labels that were never released in the UK. These have been included but not detailed in the listing below... Tony Crombie Orchestra - August, 1961 (Ember EMB3336) Harold McNair (as,f), Tommy Whittle (bs,b-cl), Gordon Beck (p), Malcolm Cecil (b), Tony Crombie (d). Gut Bucket#/Just Like Old Times/Keep It Light/Look For The Real Thing/Flute Salad*/Brazilia/Penthouse Party/Journey's End. (*Ember CD - The Best Of British Jazz featuring the stars of the British modern jazz scene from the 1950s and 1960s) (#Ember CD - Tony Crombie - A Tribute) Tony Crombie Orchestra - August, 1961 (Ember EMB3336) Harold McNair (as,f), Bobby Wellins (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Malcolm Cecil (b), Tony Crombie (d). Yodelin'/Stop That Man/Round the 'Ouses/The Gang Busters. In October, 2009 Gearbox Records released a limited edition vinyl 12" LP of a 1962 BBC Jazz for Moderns broadcast. This has never been available commercially before... The Tubby Hayes Band - February 21st, 1962 (Gearbox GB1502) Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), with: Bobby Pratt, Eddie Blair, Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Keith Christie (tb), Ken Wray (v-tb), Johnny Scott, Bob Efford, Vic Ash, Harry Klein (reeds), Alan Civil (frh), David Snell (harp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddy Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d). Take Your Partners For The Blues/Peace/Souriya/Down In The Village/Early Morning Afterthoughts. Tubby Hayes Quintet - May 17th/18th, 1962 (Fontana) Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddie Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d). Half A Sawbuck*/Angel Eyes*/The Sausage Scraper*/My Man's Gone Now*/Yeah*/Quintet Theme*. (*Universal CD - Late Spot At Scott's) Tubby Hayes Quintet - May 17th/18th, 1962 (Fontana) Tubby Hayes (ts,vib), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddie Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d). Johnny One Note*/The Most Beautiful Girl In The World*/Quintet Theme*/Down In The Village*/First Eleven*/Quintet Theme*. (*Universal CD - Down In The Village) Annie Ross with The Tony Kinsey Quintet - November/December, 1962 (Transatlantic) Annie Ross (vcl) acc. by Les Condon (tp), Peter King (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Brian Brocklehurst (b), Tony Kinsey (d). (Other musicians were added on various tracks). Bellini/The Ballad Of The Water And the Flame/The Ass' Song/The Liberal Man/Johnny/Sick Man/Things/He/Go to the Wall/The Ballad Of The Ape And The Judge/The General/Western Ladies. Tony Kinsey Quintet - March 7th/9th, 1963 (Decca SKL4534) Les Condon (tp), Peter King (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Kenny Napper (b), Tony Kinsey (d). How to Succeed...*/Happy To Keep His Dinner Warm*/I Believe In You*/Coffee Break*/Been A Long Day*/Ciderella Darling*/Paris Original*/Grand Old Ivy*/A Secretary Is Not A Toy*/Brotherhood Of Man*/Love From A Heart Of Gold*/The Company Way*. (*Vocalion CD - How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying/Time Gentlemen Please) Tubby Hayes Quintet - cMay, 1963 (Fontana TF397) Tubby Hayes (ts,vib-2), Jimmy Deuchar (tp), Gordon Beck (p), Freddie Logan (b), Allan Ganley (d). Sally/I Believe In You(2). Tubby Hayes Quartet - December 11th, 1965 (Ronnie Scott Club) Tubby Hayes (ts), Gordon Beck (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Johnny Butts (d). By Myself#. (#Harkit CD - Tubby Hayes Live in London) Harry South Big Band - January 25th, 1966 (Presenting the Harry South Big Band - Mercury 20081MCL) Ian Hamer, Hank Shaw, Les Condon, Albert Hall (tp), Ian Carr (tp,fl-hrn), Rik Kennedy, Chris Smith, Keith Christie, Bill Geldard (tb), Roy Willox, Alan Branscombe (as,fl), Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey (ts), Tubby Hayes (ts,fl), Pete King (bs), Gordon Beck (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d), HarrySouth (ldr). Costa Fortuna/Last Orders/Afterthought/Alone Together. Harry South Big Band - January 26th, 1966 (Presenting the Harry South Big Band - Mercury 20081MCL) Ian Hamer, Hank Shaw, Les Condon, Greg Bowen (tp), Ian Carr (tp,fl-hrn), Johnny Marshall, Chris Smith, Keith Christie, Gibb Wallace (tb), Roy Willox, Alan Branscombe (as,fl), Ronnie Scott, Dick Morrissey (ts), Bob Efford (ts,fl), Harry Klein (bs), Gordon Beck (p), Phil Bates (b), Phil Seamen (d), HarrySouth (ldr). Six To One Bar/Lush Life/There And Back/North Of The Soho Border. Tubby Hayes and his Orchestra - May 10th and 12th, 1966 (100% Proof - Fontana TL5410) Kenny Baker, Ian Hamer, Greg Bowen, Les Condon, Kenny Wheeler (tp), Keith Christie, Nat Peck, Johnny Marshall, Chris Smith (tb), Roy Willox, Ray Warleigh (as,fl), Ronnie Scott (ts,fl), Tubby Hayes (ts,fl,vib), Bob Efford (ts,oboe,fl,b-cl), Ronnie Ross (bs,b-cl), Gordon Beck (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Ronnie Stephenson (d). Night In Tunisia*/Milestones*/Sonnymoon For Two*/Bluesology*. (*Impressed Repressed CD - 100% Proof) Tubby Hayes and his Orchestra - May 13th, 1966 (100% proof - Fontana TL5410) Personnel as May 10th, 1966 except Harry Klein (bs) and Johnny Butts (d) replace Ronnie Ross and Ronnie Stephenson. Nutty*/100% Proof*. (*Impressed Repressed CD - 100% Proof) In 1967 Gordon was asked to record the first records under his own name for the Major Minor label. There was two commercial jazz albums Doctor Doolittle... and Half a Jazz Sixpence hoping to cash in on the success of Andre Previn's 'My Fair Lady'. They were successful enough to enable him to do an album more to his own liking, using what had become the house trio at Ronnie Scott's - himself, Jeff Clyne and Tony Oxley... Gordon Beck Trio - December, 1967 (Doctor Doolittle Loves Jazz - Major Minor MMLP8) Gordon Beck (p), Kenny Baldock (b), Jackie Dougan (d). My Friend the Doctor/I've Never Seen Anything Like It/At The Crossroads/Talk To The Animals/Doctor Doolittle/When I Look In Your Eyes/After Today/I Think I Love You/Beautiful Things. Gordon Beck Trio - December, 1967 (Half ASixpence - Major Minor MMLP22) Gordon Beck (p), Kenny Baldock (b), Jackie Dougan (d). Half A Sixpence/Money To Burn/I Know What I Am/The Race Is On/This Is My World/If The Rain's Got To Fall/Long Ago/She's Too Far Above Me/Flash, Bang, Wallop. Gordon Beck Trio with John McLaughlin - December 7th, 1967 (Experiments With Pops - Major Minor MMLP21) Gordon Beck (p), John McLaughlin (g), Jeff Clyne (b), Tony Oxley (d). These Boots Are Made For Walking*/Norwegian Wood*/Sunny (p solo)*/Up, Up And Away*/Michelle*/I Can See For Miles*/Good Vibrations*/Monday, Monday*. (*Art of Life CD - Experiments with Pops) The 'Gyroscope' album was regarded as far and away Beck's best record to date...'Jazz Journal' regarded it as an "astonishingly mature group, with a complete mastery of of every contemporary device which had been absorbed into the mainstream of modern jazz playing"... Gordon Beck Trio - September 28th, 1968 (Gyroscope - Morgan MJ1) Gordon Beck (p), Jeff Clyne (b), Tony Oxley (d). Gyroscope*/Clusters*/Suite No 1*/Miss T. Flying*/Sincerity*/And Still She Is With Me*/Oxus*. (*Art of Life CD - Gyroscope) A short lived octet that Ronnie Scott led for a few months in 1968 that many feel never reached it's full potential... Ronnie Scott and the Band - October 25th and 26th, 1968 (Realm 52661, #also CBS 63742) Realm LP titled "Live" at Ronnie Scott's.....CBS titled "Ten years at Ronnie Scott's". Kenny Wheeler (tp,flhn), Chris Pyne (tb), Ray Warleigh (as,fl), Ronnie Scott (ts), John Surman (bs,sop), Gordon Beck (p,org), Ron Matthewson (b), Kenny Clare, Tony Oxley (d). Ricorda Me#*/King Pete*/Second Question*/Marmasita*/Too Late, Too Late*#/Lord Of The Reedy River*/Macumba*/May Day*/Sweet Day*/Quiet Nights*/Hank's Tune*. (*Sony CD - Live at Ronnie Scott's) The record detailed below was recorded in Milan in 1972 for the oddly named Dire label. This Italian record was not released in the UK but it is now available in the UK on CD... Jazz Trio - 1972 (Jazz Trio - Dire F0341) Gordon Beck (p), Ron Matthewson (b), Daniel Humair (d). Suite 5 (three movements)*/All In The Morning (two movements)*. (*Art of Life CD - Jazz Trio) Some time during 1974 Gordon Beck played in the Will Power concert in Southwark Cathedral with a band that included Kenny Wheeler and Tony Coe, and they played compositions by Ian Carr, Mike Gibbs, Neil Ardley and Stan Tracey. The concert was recorded and issued on a double LP issue by the Argo label. Details of this will be added later... The record detailed below was the last record that Beck made in the UK under his own name for eight years. It is a tour de force with Beck playing acoustic and electric piano, ring modulator, synthesizer percussion and Fender. It did not sell well and it is almost impossible to locate a copy now... Gordon Beck - November, 1976 (One for the road) - Jaguar JR101) Gordon Beck (p,el-p) solo. The Beige Bird Beckons/Good Times, Sometimes/Out Of The Shadows Into the Sun/Thoughts/A Place That I Know/Long, Lean and Lethal/What's This/One For The Road/Shhh...!. From March 13th-18th, 1978 Gordon Beck recorded a solo LP in Paris for the French Owl label. Titled The French Connection it featured him on acoustic and electric piano. The album was not released in the UK. During June and July, 1979 an LP titled Sunbird was recorded in Paris for the French JMS label. The quartet personnel included: Gordon Beck (p,el-p), Allan Holdsworth (g,el-g) with bass and drums. The album was not released in the UK. From July 21st to 23rd, 1979 an LP titled Seven steps to Evans was recorded for the German MPS label. The quintet personnel was: Kenny Wheeler (cnt,tp,flhrn), Stan Sulzmann (ts,sop,fl), Gordon Beck (p), Ron Matthewson (b), Tony Oxley (d). The album was not released in the UK. During December, 1979 and January, 1980 an LP titled The things you see was recorded for the French JMS label. The group was a duo and comprised: Gordon Beck (p,el-p), Allan Holdsworth (g,el-g,voc). The album was not released in the UK. In February, 1982 Beck recorded two more solo LPs in Paris for the JMS label. One titled The French Connection 2 featured him on acoustic piano, electric piano and organ. The second titled Seasons featured him on acoustic piano only. Neither album was released in the UK. On July 7th, 1984 the French JMS label made a recording at the Bracknell Festival in England of a quintet with Gordon Beck. It was not released in the UK. The album was titled Celebration. The group personnel was: Stan Sulzmann (ts,sop,fl), Frank Ricotti (vib,perc), Gordon Beck (p), Mick Hutton (b), Steve Arguelles (d). Helen Merrill & Gordon Beck - 1984 (No tears...No goodbyes - Owl (French) Helen Merrill (vocal) acc by Gordon Beck. Title details to follow*. (*Owl CD - No tears....No goodbyes) Helen Merrill with Gordon Beck Trio - 1986 (Music Makers - Owl (French) Helen Merrill (vocal) acc by Gordon Beck, Stephane Grapelli, Steve Lacy. Title details to follow*. (*Owl CD - Music Makers) In July, 1991 the JMS label recorded the Gordon Beck Quartet in New York. The resulting CD was not released in the UK. The CD was titled For Evans Sake. The group personnel was: Gordon Beck (keyboards), Didier Lockwood (vln), Dave Holland (b), Jack DeJohnette (d). In the mid 1990s Gordon Beck and American sax player Phil Woods recorded a live concert at the Wigmore Hall in London. This was apparently released on a CD but does not appear to be currently available... Beck, Sulzmann, Laurence, Clarvis - February 24th, 1996 (Once Is Never Enough - FMR CD28-E0496) Stan Sulzmann (sax,fl) Gordon Beck (p), Chris Laurence (b), Paul Clarvis (d,perc). Are You Beautiful Too*/Once Is Never Enough*/Little "D"*/Believing Is Seeing*/Wun Tun*/Someone Somewhere*/For Keith*. (*FMR CD - Once Is Never Enough) Gordon Beck - May 24th, 1997 (Live at the Bath International music festival) Gordon Beck (solo piano). Night And Day*/Come Rain Or Come Shine*/I Love You*/Re: Person I Knew*/Almost There*/California Here I Come*/Some Other Time*/White Line*. (*Art of Life CD - Reflections) In West Sussex on January 29th and 30th, 1999 Gordon Beck recorded an album for the French label JMS titled November Song with a quartet comprising: Stan Sulzmann (ts,sop,fl), Gordon Beck (p,synt), Steve Watts (b,el-b), Gene Calderazzo (d). The resulting record was not released in the UK... Gordon Beck Trio - January 10th, 2003 (Live in Paris) Gordon Beck (p), Bruno Rousselet (b), Phillipe Soirat (d). First Trip*. (*Art of Life CD - Not the last waltz) July 27th, 2003 (Live at the Appleby jazz festival) Gordon Beck (p), Bruno Rousselet (b), Phillipe Soirat (d). Einbahnestrasse*/Miss Day*/Everything I Love*/Not The Last Waltz*/This Heart Of Mine*/Race Against Time*/Blues In G*. (*Art of Life CD - Not the last waltz) Gordon Beck Quartet - February 25th and 26th, 2005 (Live in Paris) Pierrick Pedron (as),Gordon Beck (p), Bruno Rousselet (b), Phillipe Soirat (d). Backwards Bop*/Gone With The Wind*/JuJu*/Isotope*/Quiet Now*/Solar*/Seven Steps To Heaven*. (*Art of Life CD - Seven steps to heaven) Gordon Beck Trio - July 31st, 2005 (Live at the Appleby jazz festival) Gordon Beck (p), Jeremy Brown (b), Tony Levin (d). Solar*/With A Heart In My Song*/For P-J*/The Old Country*/Appleby Blues*/Gone With The Wind*/California Here I Come*. (*Art of Life CD - Appleby Blues) |
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