Tony Lee (pianist)
Tony Lee | |
---|---|
Birth name | Anthony Leedham Lee |
Born | Whitechapel, London, England | 23 July 1934
Died | 2 March 2004 Esher, Surrey | (aged 69)
Genres | Jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | 1950s-2004 |
Tony Lee (born Anthony Leedham Lee; 23 July 1934 – 2 March 2004) was a British jazz
.Biography
Lee was born in
During a visit by the former Count Basie tenor-saxophonist Billy Mitchell who came to play at the Bull's Head, both Mitchell and Lee got on so well together that the Bull's Dan Fleming organised for both of them to tour in the US in 1984. Fleming said at the time, "Lee could bring out the best in everybody and he drew you into the music."
Despite his sketchy knowledge of musical theory, he was a complete master of his instrument, and blessed with large hands, (he could stretch an 11th with ease), his solos ranged from effortless large block chords to delicate single note figures, all played in a lyrical style, and swinging like a garden gate. He was arguably the greatest British exponent of the heavily copied Erroll Garner piano style, though his playing embraced a much wider compass.
He appeared on at least two recordings with Seamen - Phil Seamen Now! . . . Live! (1968) and on Phil Seamen Meets Eddie Gomez (1968), a live recording featuring US bassist
He had a long-lasting association of some 40 years with bassist Tony Archer in the Tony Lee Trio. Lee and Archer also played together in the sextet The Best of British Jazz formed in the early 1970s with Jack Parnell (drums), Kenny Baker (trumpet), Don Lusher (trombone) and Betty Smith (tenor sax). The sextet recorded two albums - The Best of British Jazz and The Very Best of British Jazz.
As with many pianists from the 1950s and 1960s Lee was influenced by Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum.
Personal life and death
Lee died on 2 March 2004 in Esher, Surrey. He is survived by his wife Olga and one stepson.
References
- ^ Tony Lee Obituary Henrybebop.co.uk
- ^ "Tony Lee". The Independent. 15 March 2004. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ Vacher, Peter (26 April 2004). "Obituary: Tony Lee". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
External links
- Tony Lee at AllMusic