Frederick James Gardner (23 December 1910 – 26 July 1950) was a British

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

and

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saxophonist during the 1930s and 1940s.

Early life

His father sold artist's materials, while his mother was a dressmaker. He took up the saxophone at 15 to help to alleviate asthma. After minimal coaching he formed the semi-professional New Colorado Band in 1928, and a year later, while working as an office clerk, entered the band in a contest at

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and won. He was spotted by the founding editor of ''Melody Maker'' magazine who was distributing the prizes, and a year later secured his first professional position.

Early career

In 1933, Gardner was taken under the wing of

Ray Noble Raymond Stanley Noble (17 December 1903 – 2 April 1978) was an English jazz and big band musician, who was a bandleader, composer and arranger, as well as a radio host, television and film comedian and actor; he also performed in the United ...

and recorded with the New Mayfair Orchestra.''Freddy Gardner with Peter Yorke's Orchestra'' (T 10296) album cover, Capitol Records He played in London clubs when working with Sidney Lipton's Orchestra and at the Mayfair Hotel with

Bert Firman Bert Firman (born Herbert Feuerman; 3 February 1906 – 9 April 1999) was an English bandleader of the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. He was born in London. His mother was of Polish stock and his father was a professional musician who had settled ...

's band and with Billy Bissett. Gardner became a prolific session musician, doubling on all the reeds, although his main instrument was alto saxophone. He played on recordings by

Benny Carter Bennett Lester Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. With Johnny Hodges, he was a pioneer on the alto saxophone. From the beginning of his career ...

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, and

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. from 1936 to 1937 he performed on the radio, led small groups, and his Swing Orchestra, which included

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. Many arrangements were scored by Gardner.

World War II

During World War II, Gardner joined the Royal Naval Patrol Service as a diesel engineer under Eastern Command. An official dance band for the RNPS called the Blue Mariners was led by George Crow. Their home was the Sparrow's Nest at Lowestoft, an entertainment venue appropriated by the Royal Navy. Other musicians in the band were drawn from the orchestras of Henry Hall and

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. Gardner was regularly given special leave to continue his recording and broadcasting. Other recordings at this time were made under the band name Freddie Gardner and his Mess Mates.

Freelance work

After the war, he continued with extensive freelance work, including as a soloist with the Peter Yorke Concert Orchestra. This band was formed for the

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and appeared in weekly radio programs such as ''The Starlight Hour'' and ''Sweet Serenade''. Gardner's 78 rpm recording of "I Only Have Eyes for You" was recorded on 29 April 1948 two years before his death.

Death

Gardner loved golf, all forms of transport, and was a keen modeller. He was taken ill while mending one of his son Robin's bicycle in the garden of his Brooke Street home in London. An hour later, at St. Mary's Hospital, he died of a stroke on 26 July 1950 at the age of 39. Many in the profession attended his memorial service and he was buried in Willesden Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner, Freddy 1910 births 1950 deaths English jazz saxophonists 20th-century English musicians 20th-century saxophonists