Kenny Wheeler
Jazz trumpeter and flügelhornist Kenny Wheeler was one of the most advanced voices on his instrument. Blessed with a full, lovely tone and an astounding range, Wheeler sounded equally at home in fiery free jazz explorations or softer, more lyrical post-bop meditations. Wheeler was born in 1930 in Toronto, Ontario, and began playing trumpet at age 12. After studying at Toronto's Royal Conservatory, he moved to London in 1952, where he gigged with swing and dance bands. He appeared with John Dankworth's orchestra at the 1959 Newport Festival and remained with that group until 1965. In 1966, Wheeler discovered free jazz, and, fascinated, joined John Stevens' Spontaneous Music Ensemble for the next four years. In addition, he played jazz-rock fusion with the Mike Gibbs Orchestra from 1969-1975, and joined Tony Oxley's sextet (along with free jazz giants like Derek Bailey and Evan Parker) from 1969-1972. Through the latter, Wheeler was invited to join German pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach's groundbreaking free jazz big band the Globe Unity Orchestra in 1970, an association Wheeler maintained for years to come.
During the first half of the '70s, Wheeler played with Anthony Braxton, which became his primary focus. In 1975, he signed with the ECM label and recorded the well-received Gnu High, which established him as a solo artist of note; the following year, he left Braxton and joined the trio Azimuth. Wheeler turned out a series of excellent ECM albums, including 1977's Deer Wan and 1983's Double, Double You (that year, Wheeler also began a four-year run with the Dave Holland Quintet). Several more generally fine outings followed in the '90s, including the ECM dates Music for Large and Small Ensembles and The Widow in the Window (both recorded in 1990), plus other recordings for Justin Time and Soul Note later in the decade. During the 2000s and 2010s, he recorded several dates for CAM Jazz, including 2008's Other People with the Hugo Wolf String Quartet and 2011's One of Many with Steve Swallow. Wheeler died on September 18, 2014 after a brief illness. His final studio session, the Manfred Eicher-produced Songs for Quintet, was released in 2015 on what would have been Wheeler's 85th birthday.
© Steve Huey /TiVo
-
-
Angel Song
Kenny Wheeler, Lee Konitz, Dave Holland, Bill Frisell
Jazz - Released by ECM on Feb 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Gnu High
Kenny Wheeler, Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
Jazz - Released by ECM Records on Feb 1, 1976
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live '71: The Kenny Wheeler Big Band & Friends
Jazz - Released by British Progressive Jazz on May 5, 2023
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
That's for Sure
Marc Copland, John Abercrombie, Kenny Wheeler
Jazz - Released by Baseline Jazz on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Music For Large & Small Ensembles
Jazz - Released by ECM on Jan 1, 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Still Waters (instrumental)
Kenny Wheeler, Brian Dickinson
Jazz - Released by Dodicilune on Jan 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Brand New
Marc Copland, John Abercrombie, Kenny Wheeler
Jazz - Released by Baseline Jazz on Jun 3, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Under Milk Wood in Hamburg
The Stan Tracey Quartet, Kenny Wheeler
Jazz - Released by TenToTen Records on Oct 28, 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The Long Waiting
Contemporary Jazz - Released by CAM JAZZ on Feb 14, 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
LIVE AT THE PORGY & BESS
Kenny Wheeler, Christian Maurer, Alfred Vollbauer
Jazz - Released by PAO Records on Mar 16, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Double, Double You
Kenny Wheeler, Michael Brecker, John Taylor, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette
Jazz - Released by ECM Records on May 1, 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Freigeweht
Rainer Brüninghaus, Kenny Wheeler, Jon Christensen, Brynjar Hoff
Jazz - Released by ECM on Jan 1, 1981
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
It Takes Two!
Contemporary Jazz - Released by CAM JAZZ on May 8, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
One Of Many
Contemporary Jazz - Released by CAM JAZZ on Mar 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
On The Way To Two
Contemporary Jazz - Released by CAM JAZZ on Sep 11, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo