John Dankworth's last U.S. Concert with Cleo Laine at San Francisco's Rrazz Room October 2009

"When a great man dies, for years the light he leaves behind him, lies on the paths of men."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sir John Dankworth, was a great man. In October 2009, at the end of a US tour with his wife, Dame Cleo Laine, Sir John was taken ill. He died Saturday February 6, 2010, at the age of 82 after a long illness.
Sir John Dankworth was a pioneer of modern jazz in Britain, a leading composer of film music, saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader, champion of musical education and husband of jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine.

The "Super Couple" married in 1958 and also form a magnificent partnership in jazz. The pair soared to the top of the jazz scene and beyond. Their success allowed them to devote their huge talents to supporting and financing the musical education of others. They devoted their lives to music and to the founding of a musical dynasty. In 1969 they founded the Wavendon Allmusic Plan at the Stables, at their home near Milton Keynes, a development that became internationally famous. Sir John Dankworth is survived by Dame Cleo Laine and their two children, the double-bassist Alex Dankworth and actress/jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth.

Some of the numerous jazz musicians with whom Sir John performed include; Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Gerry Mulligan, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Benny Goodman, Herbie Hancock, Hank Jones, Oscar Peterson, Mercer Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie. Sir John Dankworth was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006.
This October 4th, 2009 video, at the Rrazz room in San Francisco, is the last U.S. performance of Sir John Dankworth with Dame Cleo Laine. The talented musicians performing with John & Cleo are, Larry Dunlap -- Piano; Seward McCain -- Bass; Jim Zimmerman -- Drums; Ed Neumeister - Trombone.
Dame Cleo Laine continues to perform and recently appeared at the Rrazz room in San Francisco with her daughter Jacqui Dankworth.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• John Dankworth
• Cleo Laine
• Rrazz Room
• San Francisco
• Jazz
• Larry Dunlap
• Seward McCain
• Jim Zimmerman
• Ed Neumeister Jazz

[crossleydd42]

Who's the trombonist?

[MerridyJ]

I had the good fortune to see them in California in the 1980's. It was a fun concert with humor and playful Cleo-voice vs. John-saxophone competitions. There are great musicians out there, but some are just irreplaceable. Thank you MaxineElizabeth1 for posting,

[texpaco]

What a magnificent couple they were -- both musically and personally.