Although
resident in England since 1952 and often thought to be an English musician,
Kenny Wheeler
was born in Canada in 1930. He began playing in his hometown of St.
Catherines, encouraged by his father, a trombonist. His formal studies
include composition with Rodney Bennett and William Russo. His earliest
influences included Buck Clayton and Roy Eldrige but, by the time he
left for London, he was looking towards bebop, Miles Davis and Fats
Navarro particularly. After his arrival in London, Wheeler balanced
commercial dance band work with gigs alongside modernists like Joe Harriott
and Ronnie Scott, and in 1959 joined the Johnny Dankworth band in time
for their breakthrough Newport Jazz Festival appearance. He consequently
came to be one of the major solo voices in the Dankworth orchestra,
and during the end of his stay recorded his first album as a leader
Windmill Tilter (Fontana), which featured compositions for big band
based on Cervantes’ Don Quixote stories. Kenny is an active music educator
as shown by his presence on the faculty at the Canadian Banff Workshop
and by his involvement in international seminars. In spite of his severe
self-criticism and his almost legendary aversion to recognition, Kenny
Wheeler remains one of Europe’s most sought-after trumpet and flugelhorn
players. ( Biography courtesy of ECM ).
The
Guildhall School of Music & Drama is a conservatoire whose purpose
is to provide and develop the highest attainable quality of creative
education, training and research in musical and theatrical performance
in order to fulfill the needs of the individuals and communities it
serves. The School is regarded as a major force in the national and
international worlds of performing arts training. They offer several
courses. All are flexible, lively and challenging. They prepare students
for a professional career in music, drama and technical theatre. The
Guildhall School of Music & Drama, owned and funded by the Corporation
of London and renowned as a centre of excellence, is part of the Corporation's
ongoing commitment to the development of the arts and the international
cultural scene in the Square Mile. |