Jeff Clyne R.I.P.

[RogerF]

Some very sad news from the UK. Virtuoso bassist Jeff Clyne passed away yesterday (16 November) at the age of 72. Jeff Clyne had been a key figure in British jazz for over 40 years and played on some groundbreaking albums, Stan Tracey's Under Milk Wood, Tubby Hayes' 100% Proof and the first three seminal albums by Ian Carr's Nucleus. He also played and recorded with the likes of the Jazz Couriers with Hayes and Ronnie Scott, Keith Tippett, plus hosts of others. He was prominent for a while in nascent British jazz rock bands such as Isotope, Gilgamesh and his own band, Turning Point. Jeff Clyne also recorded a little known but superb pre-Nucleus album with Ian Carr plus Trevor Watts and John Stevens entitled Springboard , on the Polydor label, which is highly sought after by collectors. Clyne was also a teacher and co-director of the Wavendon jazz course, and taught at the Royal Academy of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Apart from being a great acoustic and electric bass player, Jeff, who I had the privilege of meeting on more than one occasion, was also a great guy and will be sorely missed. R.I.P. Jeff.

Edited November 18, 2009 by RogerF

[clifford_thornton]

Oh shit. That's terrible news.

When I first started getting into British jazz, he was a name I turned to - if he was on a session, it was sure to be excellent. Such a warm tone, but with a lot of virtuosic fire that served him (& the music) well in both free and straight-ahead contexts.

RIP.

[B. Clugston]

Sorry to hear that. He was on Tony Oxley's Columbia recordings.

[GA Russell]

I'm sorry to hear this. I still pictured him as a young guy. I have him on a Nucleus album for sure, and perhaps something else as well.

[gutrotfrenzy]

That is sad news indeed. While reading this, I can hear his sound on Baptised Traveller in my head. What a full, round, warm yet strong sound that is. And how about Amalgam's Prayer for Peace? Phenomenal. With Dave Holland and Barry Guy, one of the best British.

[sidewinder]

This is very sad news - he always seemed to be in the thick of the action as far as progressive British jazz was concerned and truly bridged the gap between the Tracey/Hayes generation and Stevens/Watts etc. I'll spin that 'Springboard' LP today in recognition of one of the 'Best of British'. RIP

First Ian Carr and now, Jeff Clyne passes on. What a truly dreadful couple of years for jazz RIPs from this land.

Edited November 18, 2009 by sidewinder

[gutrotfrenzy]

First Ian Carr and now, Jeff Clyne passes on. What a truly dreadful couple of years for jazz RIPs from this land.

I would add Paul Rutherford and Derek Bailey to that list.

[BillF]

Very sorry to hear this. Hadn't heard of him for years until his name appeared on the Wigan Jazz Festival schedule last summer. But, like G A Russell, I still picture him as a young guy, one of "Tubby Hayes' triplets", as a girlfriend of mine dubbed the three slim, sharply-suited, dark-haired young men (Jeff, Terry Shannon and Bill Eyden) who backed the more solidly-built leader at their regular sessions at Club 43 in Manchester around 1961.

[JohnS]

Very sad news. I saw Jeff many times in my younger days, always a quality player. I heard he was still active not too long ago.

[king ubu]

Sad news.

I've heard him on quite a few discs, but to be honest, I've never particularly listened to his contributions... will have to do so next time I indulge in some UK jazz. Those Oxley Columbias, I've never heard them, sadly. They seem to be hard to find by now!

[The Rep]

Very sad news, I have very fond memories of seeing Jeff. I will play something of his tonight.

[clifford_thornton]

I'll spin that 'Springboard' LP today in recognition of one of the 'Best of British'. RIP

Lucky you!

[carnivore]

Many memories of him at Ronnie's...

[Head Man]

What a bummer! A beautiful bass player and a very nice person. Like others I still remember him as being 'youngish' - a sign of old age, I guess!

[Jazzjet]

Very,very sad. Good that we've got that recent 'Splinters' release, with Tubbs, Kenny Wheeler, Trevor Watts etc to help remember him by.

[sidewinder]

Very,very sad. Good that we've got that recent 'Splinters' release, with Tubbs, Kenny Wheeler, Trevor Watts etc to help remember him by.

Must get hold of that !

[king ubu]

Very,very sad. Good that we've got that recent 'Splinters' release, with Tubbs, Kenny Wheeler, Trevor Watts etc to help remember him by.

Must get hold of that !

This one?

Splinters - Split the Difference (Reel Recordings RR013)

[clifford_thornton]

That's a good one!