Kenny Wheeler 1930-2014

[romualdo]

just heard the news

RIP Kenny

[skeith]

sad news...

thanks for the music Kenny

[Justin V]

I only own a few Kenny Wheeler albums (not nearly enough!), but he was such a talented, distinctive, melodically gifted musician. Thank you for the music, Mr. Wheeler, and rest in peace.

[mjazzg]

For those close enough and so inclined a public Memorial Service has been announced

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/10/news-public-memorial-service-for-kenny.html

[RogerF]

For those close enough and so inclined a public Memorial Service has been announced

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/10/news-public-memorial-service-for-kenny.html

The memorial service for Kenny was appropriately brilliant. A stellar line-up with the cream of British jazz including Evan Parker, John Taylor, Dave Horler, John Marshall, Martin France and Chris Laurence and Stan Sulzmann. There were eulogies, all very moving and highly personal tributes from Stan Sulzmann, Evan Parker, Dave Horler and John Taylor. Norma Winstone was in fine voice throughout and there were some notable solos from Henry Lowther, John Paricelli, John Taylor and Stan Sulzmann to name just a few. The service lasted two hours with much more music than prayer and I suspect the church (St James, Sussex Gardens in London's Lancaster Gate area) hadn't seen such a capacity audience since Christmas. The music - all Kenny Wheeler pieces, naturally, with the emphasis on larger ensembles - was sublime (no other word for it) and illustrated perfectly the genius that was Kenny Wheeler. The concert ended with a vocal piece by the London Vocal Project led by Pete Churchill which was remarkably effective. Finally and most movingly, the service concluded with a poignant recording of Kenny playing a terrific solo, the notes of which reached far up into the roof. This was a fitting tribute to a much-loved and highly respected jazz musician whose many works will live on.

Edited October 31, 2014 by RogerF

[soulpope]

For those close enough and so inclined a public Memorial Service has been announced

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2014/10/news-public-memorial-service-for-kenny.html

The memorial service for Kenny was appropriately brilliant. A stellar line-up with the cream of British jazz including Evan Parker, John Taylor, Dave Horler, John Marshall, Martin France and Chris Laurence and Stan Sulzmann. The were eulogies, all very moving and highly personal tributes from Stan Sulzmann, Evan Parker, Dave Horler and John Taylor. Norma Winstone was in fine voice throughout and there were some notable solos from Henry Lowther, John Paricelli, John Taylor, Stan Sulzmann to name just a few. The service lasted two hours with much more music than prayer and I suspect the church (St James, Sussex Gardens in London's Lancaster Gate area) hadn't seen such a capacity audience since Christmas. The music - all Kenny Wheeler pieces, naturally, with the emphasis on larger ensembles - was sublime (no other word for it) and illustrated perfectly the genius that was Kenny Wheeler. The concert ended with a vocal piece by the London Vocal Project led by Pete Churchill which was remarkably effective. Finally and most movingly, the service concluded with a poignant recording of Kenny playing a terrific solo, the notes of which reached far up into the roof. This was a fitting tribute to a much-loved and highly respected jazz musician whose many works will live on.

Thnx for sharing

[A Lark Ascending]

Yes, thank you, Roger.

[A Lark Ascending]

The 'final' album is up on Amazon for release on 16th January:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-Quintet-Kenny-Wheeler/dp/B00Q5OCUB2/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1418840734&sr=1-1&keywords=kenny+wheeler

A perfect set of partners.

Edited December 17, 2014 by A Lark Ascending

[Robert Middleton]

On 9/20/2014 at 9:08 AM, Rooster_Ties said:

Is there an especially good KW discography online? One that perhaps includes sideman appearances as well?

I'm a little Late to the party on this, but you can find pretty good discographies of most jazz artists, including band members, at Discogs.com  - Here's the link for Kenny's Discography which features all his main albums plus a lot of albums as a sideman: https://www.discogs.com/artist/142047-Kenny-Wheeler - Also, he has a p[retty god discography on Wikipedia. I'm still discovering new ones where he plays as a sideman. He elevated every date that he played on, so it's rare to find a "just average" album with Kenny on it. Man, do I miss him. 

Edited October 11, 2017 by Robert Middleton

[Rooster_Ties]

Here’s a lovely remembrance of KW, by Brad Goode - contemporaneous around the time of Kenny’s passing, very shorty after.

Funny that he seemed to go by Ken in his personal life, but was “Kenny” professionally. Or perhaps I’m reading into how he signed his correspondence with Brad, and Goode’s subsequent references to him in the piece.

Don’t miss this...

https://jazzontherecord.blogspot.com/2014/09/kenny-wheeler-1930-2014.html?m=1

[EarthMusicJoe]

I remember first hearing his ECM record Gnu High and being blown away. Such a thoughtful player.