Donald Arthur Albert Weller (19 December 1940 – 30 May 2020) was an English

jazz musician This is a list of jazz musicians by instrument based on existing articles on Wikipedia. Do not enter names that lack articles. Do not enter names that lack sources. Accordion * Kamil Běhounek (1916–1983) * Luciano Biondini (born 1971) * A ...

, tenor saxophonist, and composer.

Career

Don Weller began learning

clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument in the woodwind family. The instrument has a nearly cylindrical bore and a flared bell, and uses a single reed to produce sound. Clarinets comprise a family of instruments of differing sizes and pitches ...

at the age of 14, and was classically educated on it for four or five years, and played the solo part in Mozart's Clarinet Concerto at

Croydon Town Hall Croydon Town Hall is a council building in Katharine Street, Croydon which serves as headquarters for Croydon London Borough Council. It is a Grade II listed building. History Croydon's first town hall, which was located on the west side of th ...

aged 15. He began playing in Dixieland bands around the Croydon area, but later switched to tenor saxophone and played in

Kathy Stobart Florence Kathleen "Kathy" Stobart (1 April 1925 – 6 July 2014) was an English jazz saxophonist primarily known for playing the tenor sax. She was a well-respected figure in the history of jazz in Britain and became an inspiration, through her ...

's rehearsal band. During the 1970s, his jazz-rock group Major Surgery played a regular weekly gig at a Croydon pub, the

Dog & Bull The Dog & Bull is a public house in Croydon, England. It is a Grade II Listed, 18th-century building with a 19th-century frontage in Surrey Street, on the site of a previous 12th- or 13th-century inn called The Bell. The Dog & Bull was numbe ...

. The band played Weller's compositions on the album released as "The First Cut". This was followed by a quartet with drummer

Bryan Spring Bryan Spring (born 24 August 1945) is a British jazz drummer. He is sometimes credited as Brian Spring. He was born in London, England. Spring was self-taught, beginning at the age of six, though he later studied with Philly Joe Jones. He led and ...

. At the same time, he worked regularly with pianist

Stan Tracey Stanley William Tracey (30 December 1926 – 6 December 2013) was a British jazz pianist and composer, whose most important influences were Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Tracey's best known recording is the 1965 album ''Jazz Suite Inspir ...

, and also with

Harry Beckett Harold Winston "Harry" Beckett (30 May 1935 – 22 July 2010) was a British trumpeter and flugelhorn player of Barbadian origin. Biography Born in Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados, Harry Beckett learned to play music in a Salvation Army ...

and in a quintet with Art Themen. Renowned for his versatility, he has played with artists such as

Alan Price Alan Price (born 19 April 1942) is an English musician. He was the original keyboardist for the British band the Animals before he left to form his own band the Alan Price Set. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 as a m ...

hard rock Hard rock or heavy rock is a loosely defined subgenre of rock music typified by aggressive vocals and distorted electric guitars. Hard rock began in the mid-1960s with the garage, psychedelic and blues rock movements. Some of the earliest hard ...

band

Tucky Buzzard Tucky Buzzard were a British hard rock band formed in 1969 by three former members of The End. The original lineup was Jimmy Henderson (vocals), Terry Taylor (guitar), David Brown (bass), Paul Francis (drums), and Nick Graham (keyboards). Hal ...

. He appears as lead sax (with Tower of Power backing him on horns) on the instrumental track "Nascimento" of Cat Stevens' 1978 LP '' Back To Earth''. He also played on the Alex Harvey album '' The Mafia Stole My Guitar'' released in 1979 delivering the solo on the track ''Wait For Me Mama'' and writing ''Don's Delight''. In 1981, he stood in for

Michael Brecker Michael Leonard Brecker (March 29, 1949 – January 13, 2007) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. He was awarded 15 Grammy Awards as both performer and composer. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College of M ...

when the

Gil Evans Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988) was a Canadian–American jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators in jazz, playing an important role ...

Orchestra played at the

Bracknell Jazz Festival The Bracknell Jazz Festival was a major showcase for British modern jazz in the 1980s. The festival was known for attracting a largish audience for free improvisation, modern jazz composition and all kinds of British modern jazz in general. Ho ...

, subsequently touring the UK and recording with one of the band's trumpeters,

Hannibal Marvin Peterson Hannibal Lokumbe (born Marvin Peterson on November 11, 1948) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career A native of Smithville, Texas, United States, he is sometimes known by the name "Hannibal". He attended high school in Texas City, Texas and was i ...

, added on to the Weller–Spring Quartet. He also played and recorded with Evans' British Orchestra in 1983. Also in the 1980s, together with his friend and fellow tenor sax

Dick Morrissey Richard Edwin Morrissey (9 May 1940 – 8 November 2000) was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone and flute. Biography Background He was born in Horley, Surrey, England. Dick Morrissey emerg ...

, Weller was a regular member of

Rocket 88 "Rocket 88" (originally stylized as Rocket "88") is a song that was first recorded in Memphis, Tennessee, in March 1951. The recording was credited to " Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats", who were actually Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm. T ...

, the boogie-woogie fun band set up by Ian "Stu" Stewart and Bob Hall, appearing on the band's only album. Weller was described as a "first choice for TV and film soundtracks". He played the saxophone solo on

David Bowie David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the ...

theme song Theme music is a musical composition that is often written specifically for radio programming, television shows, video games, or films and is usually played during the title sequence, opening credits, closing credits, and in some instances at so ...

for the film '' Absolute Beginners'' (1986). He also contributed to the jazz club movie ''

Stormy Monday "Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just as Bad)" (commonly referred to as "Stormy Monday") is a song written and recorded by American blues electric guitar pioneer T-Bone Walker. It is a slow twelve-bar blues performed in the West Coast blu ...

'' (1988). In 1995, he was commissioned by the

Appleby Jazz Festival The Appleby Jazz Festival was a jazz festival held annually in Appleby-in-Westmorland and organized by Neil Ferber: the first edition was in 1989 with a concert by the Stan Tracey Quartet and the last one was in 2007. Festival history The venue f ...

organiser Neil Ferber to write The "Pennine Suite" for a jazz big band which was premiered at the 1995 Appleby festival and released on CD the following year. Since then the band has regularly appeared at other jazz festivals. A later commission from Appleby Jazz was for his 'Electric Jazz Octet'.

Personal life and death

Weller had a triple heart bypass operation in 2012, after which his enthusiasm for playing never fully returned. His account of "

We'll Be Together Again "We'll Be Together Again" is a 1945 popular song composed by Carl T. Fischer, with lyrics by Frankie Laine. Fischer was Laine's pianist and musical director when he composed the tune, and Laine was asked to write the lyrics for it. The Pied Pipe ...

" at fellow musician

Bobby Wellins Robert Coull Wellins (24 January 1936 – 27 October 2016) was a Scottish tenor saxophonist who collaborated with Stan Tracey on the album ''Jazz Suite Inspired by Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood"'' (1965). Biography Robert Coull Wellins was ...

' funeral in late 2016 was, in saxophonist Art Themen’s words, “incredibly moving and eerily prescient”. It has been said that Weller "made jazz richer, wittier and more warmly invigorating." He died in his home town of

Croydon Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensi ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

on 30 May 2020 aged 79. He is survived by his son, Mark, and daughter, Katie.Don Weller Obituary
''Theguardian.com'' Retrieved 27 June 2020

Discography

As leader

* ''Commit No Nuisance'' (Affinity, 1979) * ''Live'' (33 Records, 1997) * ''Cannonball'' with Alan Barnes (ASC, 2000) * ''The Way You're Going to Look Tomorrow Morning'' (Trio, 2003) * ''Nine Songs'' (Trio, 2007)

As sideman

With

* ''Alan Price'' (Jet, 1977) * ''Alan Stuart Octet'' (BBC 1978) * ''Lucky Day'' (Jet, 1979) * ''Travellin' Man'' (Trojan, 1986) * ''Liberty'' (Ariola, 1989) With East of Eden * ''Here We Go Again...'' (EMI, 1976) * ''It's the Climate'' (Harvest, 1978) * ''Silver Park'' (Harvest/EMI, 1978) With

Tina May Daphne Christina May (30 March 1961 – 26 March 2022), known professionally as Tina May, was an English jazz vocalist. Early life and career The younger of two daughters born to Harry May and Daphne E. Walton,Stan Tracey Stanley William Tracey (30 December 1926 – 6 December 2013) was a British jazz pianist and composer, whose most important influences were Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk. Tracey's best known recording is the 1965 album ''Jazz Suite Inspir ...

* ''The Bracknell Connection'' (Steam, 1976) * ''Salisbury Suite'' (Steam, 1978) * ''Stan Tracey Now'' (Steam, 1983) * ''Play Duke, Monk & Bird'' (Emanem, 1988) * ''Portraits Plus'' (Blue Note, 1992) * ''Live at the QEH'' (Blue Note, 1994) With others *

, ''Still Happy'' (My Only Desire, 2016) *

, ''Absolute Beginners'' (Virgin, 1986) *

, ''Allright On the Night'' (Purple, 1973) * Al Casey, ''Al Casey Remembers King Curtis'' (JSP, 1985) *

Hugh Cornwell Hugh Alan Cornwell (born 28 August 1949) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and writer, best known for being the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for the punk rock and new wave band the Stranglers from 1974 to 1990. Since leaving the ...

, ''Wolf'' (Virgin, 1988) *

King Curtis Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musicia ...

, ''Live In New York'' (JSP, 2008) * Gil Evans, ''The British Orchestra'' (Mole, 1983) * The Firm, ''The Firm'' (Atlantic, 1985) *

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, ''Weekender'' (Heavenly/Columbia, 1992) *

Michael Garrick Michael Garrick MBE (30 May 1933 – 11 November 2011)Peter VacheObituary: Michael Garrick ''The Guardian'', 15 November 2011 was an English jazz pianist and composer, and a pioneer in mixing jazz with poetry recitations and in the use of jazz ...

, ''You've Changed'' (Hep, 1981) * Alex Harvey, ''The New Band the Mafia Stole My Guitar'' (RCA Victor, 1979) *

Dick Heckstall-Smith Richard Malden Heckstall-Smith (26 September 1934 – 17 December 2004) was an English jazz and blues saxophonist. He played with some of the most influential English blues rock and jazz fusion bands of the 1960s and 1970s. He is known for pri ...

, ''Celtic Steppes'' (33 Records, 1995) *

Mike Heron James Michael Heron (born 27 December 1942) is a Scottish singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, best known for his work in the Incredible String Band in the 1960s and 1970s. Career Heron was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and attended th ...

, ''Mike Heron'' (Casablanca, 1979) *

Nicky James Nicky James (2 April 1943 – 8 October 2007), born Michael Clifford Nicholls, was a British musician and songwriter. Biography James was born in Tipton, Staffordshire, England. He attended Park Lane School, and at age sixteen moved to Scunthor ...

, ''Nicky James'' (Philips, 1971) *

Hannibal Lokumbe Hannibal Lokumbe (born Marvin Peterson on November 11, 1948) is an American jazz trumpeter. Career A native of Smithville, Texas, United States, he is sometimes known by the name "Hannibal". He attended high school in Texas City, Texas and was i ...

, ''Poem Song'' (Mole, 1981) *

Meal Ticket Meal Ticket were a country rock band who emerged from the London pub circuit during the 1970s and signed to Logo Records. They had several line ups which included Ray Flacke, Jack Brand, Andy Coulter, Rod Demick, Chris Hunt, Keith Nelson, Steve ...

, ''Three Times a Day'' (Logo/EMI, 1977) *

Mick Pyne Mick Pyne (2 September 1940, in Thornton-le-Dale – 23 May 1995, in London) was an English jazz pianist. His brother was jazz musician Chris Pyne. He learned piano from a very early age and could also play cornet and violin. He and his brother C ...

, ''A Little Blue'' (Miles Music, 1988) * Jim Richardson, ''2 Plus 2'' (Actone, 2010) *

, ''Rocket 88'' (Atlantic, 1981) *

Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; ), commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His musical style consists of folk, pop, rock, and, later in ...

, ''Back to Earth'' (A&M, 1978) *

Charlie Watts Charles Robert Watts (2 June 1941 – 24 August 2021) was an English musician who achieved international fame as the drummer of the Rolling Stones from 1963 until his death in 2021. Originally trained as a graphic artist, Watts developed an i ...

, ''Live at

Fulham Town Hall Fulham Town Hall is a municipal building on Fulham Road, Fulham, London. It is a Grade II* listed building. History The building was commissioned by the Parish of St John to replace an existing vestry hall in Walham Green. The site chosen had ...

'' (CBS, 1986)

References

External links

''Jazz UK'' article
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Weller, Don 1940 births 2020 deaths English jazz composers Male jazz composers English jazz saxophonists British male saxophonists English male composers Jazz tenor saxophonists People from Thornton Heath 21st-century saxophonists 21st-century British male musicians 20th-century saxophonists