Leonard Skeat (9 February 1937 – 9 March 2021) was a British[1] jazz double-bassist, and the younger brother of Bill Skeat, a saxophone player (1926–1999).[2][3]

Len Skeat
Len Skeat at Upwell Jazz Club, 2020
Len Skeat at Upwell Jazz Club, 2020
Background information
Birth nameLeonard Skeat
Born(1937-02-09)9 February 1937
East London, England
Died9 March 2021(2021-03-09) (aged 84)
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Double bass
Years active1960s–2021

Biography edit

He was born in East End of London, and worked with the Ted Heath band.[2] During the 1970s, he was in demand and almost resident at the Pizza Express Jazz Club,[2] and Pizza on the Park Jazz Club (closed 2010) in London. He was a member of the band, Velvet.[4]

Skeat recorded with Mel Tormé, Ben Webster, Billy Eckstine, Lionel Hampton, Scott Hamilton, Helen Merrill, Lou Rawls, Harry Edison, Denny Wright, Digby Fairweather, Spike Robinson, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Stéphane Grappelli,[5] Dick Morrissey, Bill Watrous, and Randy Sandke. He was also a member of the Eddie Thompson Trio and Charly Antolini's Jazz Power.

Discography edit

With Charly Antolini

With Bud Freeman

  • 1980 The Dolphin Has A Message

With Spike Robinson

  • 1984 Spike Robinson-Eddie Thompson Trip/At Chesters Volumes 1 & 2 (Hep)
  • 1986 In Town with Elaine Delmar (Hep)
  • 1987 The Gershwin Collection (Hep)

With Bill Watrous

  • 1982 Bill Watrous in London

References edit

  1. ^ "RIP Len Skeat (1937 -2021)". Londonjazznews.com. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. p. 400. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  3. ^ Len Skeat Musical Biography Jazzsteps.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ^ Len Skeat Biography, AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ^ Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Priestley, Brian (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz (3rd ed.). Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-84353-256-9.

External links edit