Kenneth Vincent John Wheeler, OC (14 January 1930 – 18 September 2014) was a Canadian

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

and trumpet and flugelhorn player, based in the U.K. from the 1950s onwards. Most of his performances were rooted in

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 ...

, but he was also active in

free improvisation Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician(s) involved. The term can refer to both a technique (employed by any musician in any genre) and as a recognizable genre in its ...

and occasionally contributed to

rock music Rock music is a broad genre of popular music that originated as " rock and roll" in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s, developing into a range of different styles in the mid-1960s and later, particularly in the United States an ...

recordings. Wheeler wrote over one hundred compositions and was a skilled arranger for small groups and large ensembles. Wheeler was the patron of the Royal Academy Junior Jazz course.

Early life

Wheeler was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 14 January 1930. Growing up in Toronto, he began playing the cornet at age 12 and became interested in jazz in his mid-teens. Wheeler spent a year studying composition at

The Royal Conservatory of Music The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), branded as The Royal Conservatory, is a non-profit music education institution and performance venue headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1886 by Edward Fisher as The Toronto Con ...

in 1950. In 1952 he moved to Britain. He found his way into the London jazz scene of the time, playing in groups led by

Tommy Whittle Tommy Whittle (13 October 1926 – 13 October 2013) was a British jazz saxophonist. Biography Tommy Whittle was born in Grangemouth, Scotland. He started playing clarinet at the age of 12 before taking up tenor saxophone at 13, guided by A ...

Tubby Hayes Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes (30 January 1935 – 8 June 1973) was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. Early life ...

, and

Ronnie Scott Ronnie may refer to: *Ronnie (name), a unisex pet name and given name * "Ronnie" (Four Seasons song), a song by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe *"Ronnie," a song from the Metallica album '' Load'' *Ronnie Brunswijkstadion, an association football stadium ...

Career

In the late 1950s, he was a member of

Buddy Featherstonhaugh Rupert Edward Lee "Buddy" Featherstonhaugh ( ; 4 October 1909 – 12 July 1976) was an English jazz saxophonist and clarinetist. Musical career Born in Paris in 1909, the son of an English marine architect and his Scottish wife. His grandfath ...

's quintet together with

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 ...

. From 1959 until 1965 he was a member of

John Dankworth Sir John Phillip William Dankworth, CBE (20 September 1927 – 6 February 2010), also known as Johnny Dankworth, was an English jazz composer, saxophonist, clarinettist and writer of film scores. With his wife, jazz singer Dame Cleo Laine, he ...

's orchestra, during which time he also studied composition with

Richard Rodney Bennett Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (29 March 193624 December 2012) was an English composer of film, TV and concert music, and also a jazz pianist and occasional vocalist. He was based in New York City from 1979 until his death there in 2012.Zachary Woo ...

(1962-3) and

Bill Russo William Joseph Russo (June 25, 1928 – January 11, 2003) was an American composer, arranger, and musician from Chicago, Illinois, United States. History A student of jazz pianist Lennie Tristano, Russo wrote orchestral scores for the Stan Ken ...

(1963-4).Kernfeld, Barry.
Wheeler,_Kenny_[Kenneth_Vincent_John
/nowiki>.html" ;"title="enneth Vincent John">Wheeler, Kenny enneth_Vincent_John">Wheeler,_Kenny_[Kenneth_Vincent_John
/nowiki>_in_''Grove_Music_Online''_He_also_with_(Eric_Burdon.html" ;"title="enneth Vincent John
/nowiki>">enneth Vincent John">Wheeler, Kenny [Kenneth Vincent John
/nowiki> in ''Grove Music Online'' He also with (Eric Burdon">enneth Vincent John
/nowiki>">enneth Vincent John">Wheeler, Kenny [Kenneth Vincent John
/nowiki> in ''Grove Music Online'' He also with (Eric Burdon and) the Animals' Big Band that made its only public appearance at the National Jazz and Blues Festival, 5th Annual British Jazz & Blues Festival in Richmond, London, Richmond (1965) with tenors Stan Robinson (saxophonist), Stan Robinson,

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 ...

and

Al Gay Albert Gay (born ''Albert Goldstein''; 25 February 1928 – 12 October 2013) was a British jazz tenor saxophonist. Biography After having played with the Jive Bombers, Gay worked with Freddy Randall from 1953, and would return several times to R ...

, baritone sax Paul Carroll, and fellow trumpets

Ian Carr Ian Carr (21 April 1933 – 25 February 2009) was a Scottish jazz musician, composer, writer, and educator. Carr performed and recorded with the Rendell-Carr quintet and jazz-fusion band Nucleus, and was an associate professor at the Guildhall ...

and Greg Brown. In 1968, Wheeler appeared on guitarist Terry Smith's first solo album, ''Fall Out''. 19921123 kenny wheeler ujre braunschweig2

Wheeler performed and recorded his own compositions with large jazz ensembles throughout his career, beginning with the first album under his own name, '' Windmill Tilter'' (1969), recorded with the John Dankworth band. BGO Records released a CD in September 2010. The

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

album ''Song for Someone'' (1973) fused Wheeler's characteristic orchestral writing with passages of

provided by musicians such as

Evan Parker Evan Shaw Parker (born 5 April 1944) is a British tenor and soprano saxophone player who plays free improvisation. Recording and performing prolifically with many collaborators, Parker was a pivotal figure in the development of European free ja ...

and Derek Bailey, and was also named Album of the Year by ''

Melody Maker ''Melody Maker'' was a British weekly music magazine, one of the world's earliest music weeklies; according to its publisher, IPC Media, the earliest. It was founded in 1926, largely as a magazine for dance band musicians, by Leicester-born ...

'' magazine in 1975. It has subsequently been reissued on CD by Parker's Psi label. In the mid-1960s, Wheeler became a close participant in the nascent free improvisation movement in London, playing with Parker, John Stevens, the

Spontaneous Music Ensemble Spontaneous may refer to: * Spontaneous abortion * Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis * Spontaneous combustion * Spontaneous declaration * Spontaneous emission * Spontaneous fission * Spontaneous generation * Spontaneous human combustion * Sponta ...

and the

Globe Unity Orchestra The Globe Unity Orchestra is a free jazz ensemble. Globe Unity was formed in autumn 1966 with a commission received by Alexander von Schlippenbach from the Berlin Jazz Festival. It had its debut at the Berliner Philharmonie on 3 November combini ...

. Despite the above-noted accomplishments, much of his reputation rests on his work with smaller jazz groups. Wheeler's first small group recordings to gain significant critical attention were ''

Gnu High ''Gnu High'' is an LP by Canadian trumpeter Kenny Wheeler featuring Keith Jarrett, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette recorded in 1975 and released on the ECM Records, ECM label in 1976. Reception The Allmusic review by Michael G. Nastos calls th ...

'' (1975) and ''

Deer Wan ''Deer Wan'' is an album by Kenny Wheeler featuring performances by Wheeler with Jan Garbarek, John Abercrombie, Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette with Ralph Towner appearing on one track. The album was recorded in 1977 and released on the ECM ...

'' (1977), both for the ECM label (''Gnu High'' is one of the few albums to feature Keith Jarrett as a sideman since his tenure with Charles Lloyd). One exception from the ongoing collaboration with ECM was his rare album on CBC called ''Ensemble Fusionaire'' in 1976. This had three other Canadian musicians and was recorded in St. Mary's Church in Toronto for a different character to the sound than on the ECM recordings. Wheeler was the trumpeter in the

Anthony Braxton Anthony Braxton (born June 4, 1945) is an American experimental composer, educator, music theorist, improviser and multi-instrumentalist who is best known for playing saxophones, particularly the alto. Braxton grew up on the South Side of Chica ...

Quartet from 1971 to 1976. He was also a member of the chamber jazz trio

Azimuth An azimuth (; from ar, اَلسُّمُوت, as-sumūt, the directions) is an angular measurement in a spherical coordinate system. More specifically, it is the horizontal angle from a cardinal direction, most commonly north. Mathematicall ...

with John Taylor and

Norma Winstone Norma Ann Winstone MBE (born 23 September 1941) is an English jazz singer and lyricist. With a career spanning more than 50 years, she is best known for her wordless improvisations. Musicians with whom she has worked include Michael Garrick, ...

from 1977 to 2000. Their first release under this name was a 1977 album issued by ECM; two albums followed, with later albums coming in 1985 and 1995. He was featured in a profile on composer

Graham Collier James Graham Collier (21 February 1937 – 9 September 2011) was an English jazz bassist, bandleader and composer. Life and career Born in Tynemouth, Northumberland, England, on leaving school Collier joined the British Army as a musician, ...

in the 1985

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...

documentary ''Hoarded Dreams''.

Later life

'' Music for Large & Small Ensembles'' (1990) included the Wheeler compositions "Sea Lady" and "The Sweet Time Suite", the latter his most ambitious extended work for big band since ''Windmill Tilter''. In 1997 Wheeler received widespread critical praise for his album '' Angel Song'', which featured an unusual drummer-less quartet of

Bill Frisell William Richard Frisell (born March 18, 1951) is an American jazz guitarist, composer and arranger. Frisell first came to prominence at ECM Records in the 1980s, as both a session player and a leader. He went on to work in a variety of contexts ...

(guitar),

Dave Holland David “Dave” Holland (born 1 October 1946) is an English jazz double bassist, composer and bandleader who has been performing and recording for five decades. He has lived in the United States for over 40 years. His extensive discography r ...

(bass) and Lee Konitz (alto sax). Wheeler recorded seven albums with CAM Jazz from 2005 to 2008 but returned to ECM to record his final album, ''

Songs for Quintet ''Songs for Quintet'' is the final studio album by flugelhornist and composer Kenny Wheeler recorded at Abbey Road Studios in 2013 and released on the ECM label in early 2015 shortly after his death.

'', in 2013. Wheeler died after a short period of frail health at a nursing home in London on 18 September 2014. He was 84 years old.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

* 1968: '' Windmill Tilter'' ( Fontana) with The

Orchestra * 1973: '' Song for Someone'' (

Incus The ''incus'' (plural incudes) or anvil is a bone in the middle ear. The anvil-shaped small bone is one of three ossicles in the middle ear. The ''incus'' receives vibrations from the ''malleus'', to which it is connected laterally, and transmit ...

) * 1975: ''

'' ( ECM) * 1976: ''Ensemble Fusionaire'' ( CBC) * 1977: ''

'' (ECM) * 1980: '' Around 6'' (ECM) * 1984: '' Double, Double You'' (ECM) * 1988: ''

Flutter By, Butterfly ''Flutter By, Butterfly'' is an album by the Kenny Wheeler Quintet recorded in 1987 and released on the Soul Note label.

'' (

Soul Note Black Saint and Soul Note are two affiliated Italian independent record labels. Since their conception in the 1970s, they have released albums from a variety of influential jazz musicians, particularly in the genre of free jazz. History Black S ...

) * 1988: ''Visions'' ( Justin Time) * 1990: '' Music for Large & Small Ensembles'' (ECM) * 1990: '' The Widow in the Window'' (ECM) * 1991: '' Spanish Rhapsody'' (with Creative Art Ensemble Hungary by György Vukán) * 1992: ''Kayak'' (Ah Um) * 1997: '' All the More'' (

) recorded 1993 * 1997: '' Angel Song'' (ECM) * 1999: '' A Long Time Ago'' (ECM) * 2003: ''

Island An island (or isle) is an isolated piece of habitat that is surrounded by a dramatically different habitat, such as water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, skerries, cays or keys. An island ...

'' (Artists House) with

Bob Brookmeyer Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Ge ...

* 2003: ''

Dream Sequence A dream sequence is a technique used in storytelling, particularly in television and film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. The interlude may consist of a flashback, a flashforward, a fantasy, a vision, a dream, or some other ...

'' (

Psi Psi, PSI or Ψ may refer to: Alphabetic letters * Psi (Greek) (Ψ, ψ), the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet * Psi (Cyrillic) (Ѱ, ѱ), letter of the early Cyrillic alphabet, adopted from Greek Arts and entertainment * "Psi" as an abbreviatio ...

, 1995–2003

003 003, O03, 0O3, OO3 may refer to: *003, fictional British 00 Agent *003, former emergency telephone number for the Norwegian ambulance service (until 1986) *1990 OO3, the asteroid 6131 Towen * OO3 gauge model railway *''O03 (O2)'' and other related ...

* 2004: '' Where Do We Go from Here?'' ( CAM Jazz) with John Taylor * 2005: '' What Now?'' (CAM Jazz) * 2006: '' It Takes Two!'' (CAM Jazz) * 2008: ''Other People'' (CAM Jazz) with Hugo Wolf String Quartet featuring John Taylor * 2011: ''One of Many'' (CAM Jazz) with John Taylor and

Steve Swallow Steve Swallow (born October 4, 1940) is an American jazz bassist and composer, known for his collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton, and Carla Bley. He was one of the first jazz double bassists to switch entirely to electric bass guitar. ...

* 2012: ''The Long Waiting'' (CAM Jazz) * 2013: ''Mirrors'' (Edition Records) London Vocal Project with

* 2013: ''Six for Six'' (CAM Jazz, recorded 2008) * 2015: ''

'' (ECM, recorded 2013) * 2015: ''On the Way to Two'' (CAM Jazz, recorded 2005)

Collaborations with John Taylor

* with

Paolo Fresu Paolo Fresu ( sc, Pàulu; born 10 February 1961) is an Italian jazz trumpet and flugelhorn player, as well as a composer and arranger of music. Career Born in Berchidda, Sardinia, he picked up the trumpet at the age of 11, and played in the ba ...

Paolo Damiani Paolo Damiani (born 1952) is an Italian jazz cellist and double-bassist. Performing primarily avant-garde jazz, he has worked with Gianluigi Trovesi, Kenny Wheeler, Tony Oxley, Paolo Fresu, and John Taylor. Damiani has also recorded on the alb ...

Tony Oxley Tony Oxley (born 15 June 1938) is an English free improvising drummer and one of the founders of Incus Records. Biography Oxley was born in Sheffield, England. A self-taught pianist by the age of eight, he first began playing the drums at s ...

: ''Live at Roccella Jonica'' (Ismez Polis, 1985) * featuring

Gabriele Mirabassi Gabriele Mirabassi is an Italian jazz clarinetist. Career He was born in Perugia and is a graduate of the Morlacchi Conservatory. His teacher told him avoid playing jazz because it would damage his technique, so at home he learned jazz on the ...

: ''

Moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It is the fifth largest satellite in the Solar System and the largest and most massive relative to its parent planet, with a diameter about one-quarter that of Earth (comparable to the width of ...

'' (Egea, 2001) * with Riccardo Del Fra: ''Overnight'' (Sketch, 2002) * '' Pause, and Think Again'' (Turtle, 1971)

As Azimuth

* ''

'' (ECM, 1977) * ''

The Touchstone The Touchstone is a novella by American writer Edith Wharton. Written in 1900, it was the first of her many stories describing life in old New York. Stephen Glennard, the novella's protagonist, is suddenly impoverished and unable to marry the ...

'' (ECM, 1978) * '' Départ'', with

Ralph Towner Ralph Towner (born March 1, 1940) is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and bandleader. He plays the twelve-string guitar, classical guitar, piano, synthesizer, percussion, trumpet and French horn. Biography Towner was born i ...

(ECM, 1979) * '' Azimuth '85'' (ECM, 1985) * '' How It Was Then... Never Again'' (ECM, 1994) * ''Siren's Song'', with The Maritime Jazz Orchestra ( Justin Time, 1997)

Other collaborations

* wrote/arranged "Ballad to Max" on Maynard Ferguson's album '' M.F. Horn'' ( Columbia, 1970) * arranged "Fire and Rain", "My Sweet Lord", and "Your Song" on Maynard Ferguson's album '' Alive & Well in London'' (Columbia, 1971) * arranged "Theme from ''Summer of '42''" and wrote/arranged "Free Wheeler" on Maynard Ferguson's album ''

M.F. Horn Two ''M.F. Horn Two'' is a 1972 big band jazz album by Canadian jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson. It features cover versions of many songs that were popular in the years leading up to its production, including: "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, "Count ...

'' (Columbia, 1972) * with

Elton Dean Elton Dean (28 October 1945 – 8 February 2006) was an English jazz musician who performed on alto saxophone, saxello (a variant of the soprano saxophone) and occasionally keyboards. Part of the Canterbury scene, he featured in, among ot ...

and Joe Gallivan: ''The Cheque Is in the Mail'' (

Ogun Ogun or Ogoun (Yoruba: Ògún, Portuguese: Ogum, Gu; also spelled Oggun or Ogou; known as Ogún or Ogum in Latin America) is a spirit that appears in several African religions. He attempted to seize the throne after the demise of Obatala, who ...

, 1977) * with Günter Christmann,

Gerd Dudek Gerhard Rochus "Gerd" Dudek (28 September 1938 – 3 November 2022) was a German jazz Tenor saxophone, tenor and Soprano saxophone, soprano saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist. Dudek studied clarinet privately and attended music school in the ...

, Albert Mangelsdorff, Paul Rutherford,

Manfred Schoof Manfred Schoof (born 6 April 1936) is a German jazz trumpeter. Career Schoof was born in Magdeburg, Germany, and studied music in Kassel and Cologne, where one of his teachers of the big band leader Kurt Edelhagen. Schoof performed on Edelhagen ...

: ''Horns'' ( FMP, 1979) * with

Gordon Beck Gordon James Beck (16 September 1935 – 6 November 2011) was an English jazz pianist and composer. At the time of his death, 26 albums had been released under his name. Early life Beck was born in Brixton, London, and attended Pinner Coun ...

, Tony Oxley,

Stan Sulzmann Stanley Ernest Sulzmann (born 30 November 1948) is an English jazz saxophonist. Biography He was born in London, England. Sulzmann began playing the saxophone at age of 13 and played in 1964 Bill Ashton's London Youth Jazz Orchestra, later ...

, Ron Mathewson: ''Seven Steps to Evans'' ( MPS, 1980) * with Tiziana Simona: ''Gigolo'' (ITM, 1986) * with

Claudio Fasoli Claudio Fasoli (born 29 November 1939) is an Italian jazz - saxophonist (tenor and soprano saxophone) and composer of modern jazz. Music career Born in Venice, he now lives in Milan, Italy. After a long apprenticeship and many sessions with v ...

, Jean-François Jenny Clark, Daniel Humair: ''Welcome'' (

, 1987) * with

and Jean-François Jenny Clark: ''Land'' (Innowo/New Sound Planet, 1989) * with Gordon Beck, Tony Oxley, Stan Sulzmann, Dieter Ilg: ''A Tribute to Bill Evans'' (

Image Entertainment RLJ Entertainment (formerly Image Entertainment) is an American film production company and home video distributor, distributing film and television productions in North America, with approximately 3,200 exclusive DVD titles and approximately 34 ...

DVD, filmed 1991, released 1999) * with Jeff Gardner, Hein van de Geyn, André Ceccarelli: ''California Daydream'' (

Musidisc Musidisc is a French record label that provides music and home video distribution. It was founded in 1927, and purchased by Universal Music Group in 1999. History Musidisc is known for having produced a rare recording of Jeanne Calment, who has ...

, 1992) * with David Friedman,

Jasper van't Hof Jasper van 't Hof (born 30 June 1947) is a Dutch jazz pianist and keyboard player. Van 't Hof was born in Enschede, Overijssel, Netherlands, and began studying piano at the age of five. He played in jazz bands at school, and by the age of 19 was ...

: ''Greenhouse Fables'' (Sentemo, 1992) * with Paolino Dalla Porta, Stefano Battaglia, Bill Elgart: ''Tales'' (Soul Note, 1993) * with

Mick Goodrick Mick Goodrick (June 9, 1945 – November 16, 2022) was an American jazz guitarist who spent most of his career as a teacher. In the early 1970s, he worked with Gary Burton and Pat Metheny. Biography An Elvis fan, Goodrick began studying guitar ...

, Henri Texier - double bass,

Billy Elgart Bill Elgart or Billy Elgart (born November 9, 1942, Cambridge, Massachusetts) is an expatriate American jazz drummer. He is related to Les and Larry Elgart. Elgart was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He studied at the Berklee College of Music ...

- drums: "Ten tributes" (Ram records, 1994) * with Rabih Abou Khalil - Sultan's Picnic, Enja Records, 1994) * with Vandoorn (Ineke Vandoorn & Marc van Vugt) - The Question is me, Riff/Baixim records 1994 * with

Paul Bley Paul Bley, CM (November 10, 1932 – January 3, 2016) was a jazz pianist known for his contributions to the free jazz movement of the 1960s as well as his innovations and influence on trio playing and his early live performance on the Moog and ...

: ''Touché'' (Justin Time, 1996) * with

Sonny Greenwich Sonny Greenwich, (born January 1, 1936) is a Canadian guitarist. He has played in major Canadian and American cities including a concert at Carnegie Hall. He has performed with musicians such as Charles Lloyd, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, Mc ...

: ''Live at the Montreal Bistro'' (Justin Time, 1998) * with Brian Dickinson: ''Still Waters'' Lee_Konitz:_''Live_at_Birdland_Neuberg''_(Double_Moon,_1999) *_with_Fred_Hersch.html" ;"title="ornblower, 1999) * with Lee Konitz: ''Live at Birdland Neuberg'' (Double Moon, 1999) * with Fred Hersch">ornblower, 1999) * with Lee Konitz: ''Live at Birdland Neuberg'' (Double Moon, 1999) * with Fred Hersch, Norma Winstone, Paul Clarvis: ''4 in Perspective'' (Village Life, 2000) * with Marc Copland and John Abercrombie: ''That's for Sure'' (Challenge Records (1994), Challenge, 2001) * with

and

John Parricelli John Parricelli (born 5 April 1959 in Evesham, Wychavon, Worcestershire, England) is a jazz guitarist who has worked mainly in the United Kingdom. Parricelli began his career as a guitarist in 1982. He was one of the founding members of the Brit ...

: ''Ordesa'' (Symbol, 2002) * with

Enrico Pieranunzi Enrico Pieranunzi (born 5 December 1949) is an Italian jazz pianist. He combines classical technique with jazz. Biography The son of Renata Brillantini and Alvaro Pieranunzi, Enrico Pieranunzi was encouraged to study music at a young age. Hi ...

, Chris Potter,

Charlie Haden Charles Edward Haden (August 6, 1937 – July 11, 2014) was an American jazz double bass player, bandleader, composer and educator whose career spanned more than 50 years. In the late 1950s, he was an original member of the ground-breaking ...

Paul Motian Stephen Paul Motian (March 25, 1931 – November 22, 2011) was an American jazz drummer, percussionist, and composer. Motian played an important role in freeing jazz drummers from strict time-keeping duties. He first came to prominence in the ...

: ''Fellini Jazz'' (CAM Jazz, 2003) * with Marc Copland and John Abercrombie: ''Brand New'' (Challenge, 2004) * with

Tony Coe Anthony George Coe (born 29 November 1934) is an English jazz musician who plays clarinet, bass clarinet, flute as well as soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones. Career Born in Canterbury, Kent, England, Coe started out on clarinet and was self- ...

, John Edwards,

Alan Hacker Alan Ray Hacker (30 September 1938 – 16 April 2012) was an English clarinettist, conductor, and music professor. Biography He was born in Dorking, Surrey in 1938, the son of Kenneth and Sybil Hacker.''Who’s Who 1975'', page 1302, (A&C Bl ...

Sylvia Hallett Sylvia Hallett (born 1953) is an English musician and composer. She plays many instruments including the violin and she is known for improvisations on unusual instruments. She has appeared at international festivals, often in collaboration with ...

, Marcio Mattos, Evan Parker,

Philipp Wachsmann Philipp John Paul Wachsmann (born 5 August 1944) is an African avant-garde jazz/jazz fusion violinist born in Kampala, Uganda, probably better known for having founded his own group Chamberpot. He has worked with many musicians in the free jazz id ...

: ''Free Zone Appleby 2003'' (

PSI Psi, PSI or Ψ may refer to: Alphabetic letters * Psi (Greek) (Ψ, ψ), the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet * Psi (Cyrillic) (Ѱ, ѱ), letter of the early Cyrillic alphabet, adopted from Greek Arts and entertainment * "Psi" as an abbreviatio ...

, 2004) * with Gerd Dudek,

Paul Dunmall Paul Dunmall (born 6 May 1953) is a British jazz musician who plays tenor and soprano saxophone, as well as the baritone and the more exotic saxello and the Northumbrian smallpipes. He has played with Keith Tippett and Barry Guy. In the ea ...

, John Edwards,

Tony Levin Anthony Frederick Levin (born June 6, 1946) is an American musician and composer, specializing in electric bass, Chapman Stick and upright bass. He also sings and plays synthesizer. Levin is best known for his work with King Crimson (since 1 ...

, Tony Marsh, Evan Parker, Paul Rogers, Philipp Wachsmann: ''Free Zone Appleby 2005'' (PSI, 2006) * with Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall, Tony Levin, John Edwards: ''Live at the Vortex, London'' (Rare Music, 2011) * with

, Steve Beresford, John Edwards, Louis Moholo-Moholo: ''Foxes Fox: Live at the Vortex'' (PSI, 2012)

Featured

* Robert 'Bob' Cornford, Tony Coe, Kenny Wheeler and the NDR 'Pops' Orchestra: ''Long Shadows'' (Chapter One, 2007; recorded 1979) * The Guildhall Jazz Band: ''Walk Softly'' (Wave, 1998; recorded 1987) * The Jürgen Friedrich Quartet Featuring Kenny Wheeler: ''Summerflood'' ( CTI, 1998; reissued 2003) * Tim Brady: ''Visions'' (Justin Time, 1988) with L'orchestre de Chambre de Montréal * Dezső "Ablakos" Lakatos (sax.), Kenny Wheeler (tr.), György Vukán (piano), Balázs Berkes (bass), Imre Kőszegi (drums), Creative Art Ensemble Brass & Rhythm, in "Spanish Rapsody" of György Vukán (CAE LP 002 Hungaroton, ARTISJUS 1991) * The Upper Austrian Jazzorchestra: ''Plays the Music of Kenny Wheeler'' (

West Wind A west wind is a wind that originates in the west and blows in an eastward direction. Mythology and Literature In European tradition, it has usually been considered the mildest and most favorable of the directional winds. In Greek mythology, ...

, 1996) * The Maritime Jazz Orchestra: ''Now and Now-Again'' (Justin Time, 2002; recorded 1998) with

and John Taylor * UMO Jazz Orchestra: ''One More Time'' (A-Records, 2000) with Norma Winstone * Munich Jazz Orchestra: ''Sometime Suite'' (Bassic Sound, 2001) * Colours Jazz Orchestra: ''Nineteen Plus One'' (Astarte/Egea, 2009)

As sideman

With Tommy Smith * ''Azure'' (

Linn Linn may refer to: People * Linn (surname) * Linn (given name) * Linn da Quebrada, stage name of Brazilian singer, actress, screenwriter and television personality Lina Pereira dos Santos (born 1990) Places Germany * Linn (Gangkofen), a part ...

, 1995) With John Abercrombie * ''

Open Land ''Open Land'' is an album by the jazz guitarist John Abercrombie, with trumpeter and flugelhornist Kenny Wheeler, saxophonist Joe Lovano, violinist Mark Feldman, organist Dan Wall, and drummer Adam Nussbaum. The album was recorded in 1998 and r ...

'' (ECM, 1998) With Rabih Abou-Khalil *'' Blue Camel'' (Enja, 1992) *'' The Sultan's Picnic'' (Enja, 1994) With George Adams * '' Sound Suggestions'' (ECM, 1979) With

Pepper Adams Park Frederick "Pepper" Adams III (October 8, 1930 – September 10, 1986) was an American jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 42 pieces, was the leader on eighteen albums spanning 28 years, and participated in 600 sessions as a s ...

*'' Conjuration: Fat Tuesday's Session'' (Reservoir, 1983 990}) With_the_Berlin_Contemporary_Jazz_Orchestra *_''Berlin_Contemporary_Jazz_Orchestra_(album).html" ;"title="Berlin_Contemporary_Jazz_Orchestra.html" ;"title="990}) With the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra">990}) With the Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra * ''Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra (album)">Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra'' (Conducted by Alexander von Schlippenbach) (ECM, 1990) With Jane Ira Bloom * ''Art and Aviation'' (Arabesque, 1992) * ''The Nearness'' (Arabesque, 1995) With

*'' The Complete Braxton'' (Freedom, 1971

973 Year 973 ( CMLXXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Spring – The Byzantine army, led by General Melias (Domestic of the S ...

*'' Quartet: Live at Moers Festival'' (Ring, 1974

976 Year 976 ( CMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * January 10 – Emperor John I Tzimiskes dies at Constantinople, after re ...

* '' New York, Fall 1974'' ( Arista, 1974) * '' Five Pieces 1975'' (Arista, 1975) * '' The Montreux/Berlin Concerts'' (Arista, 1975-6) * '' Creative Orchestra Music 1976'' (Arista, 1976) * ''

Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978 ''Creative Orchestra (Köln) 1978'' is a live album by American composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton. Recorded in Germany in 1978 but not released on the hatART label until 1995, the album features a live concert featuring several of Braxton' ...

'' (hatART, 1978

995 Year 995 ( CMXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 17 May - Fujiwara no Michitaka (imperial regent) dies. * 3 June: Fujiwara no Michikane gain ...

With

Jakob Bro Jakob Bro (born April 11, 1978) is a Danish guitarist and composer. Career Bro leads a trio with Joey Baron and Thomas Morgan. In the fall of 2016 the trio released the album ''Streams'' ( ECM). Bro also works with Palle Mikkelborg and Bro/Knak, ...

* 2011: ''Bro/Knak'' (Loveland) Album entry o
JakobBro.com
/ref> With

Bill Bruford William Scott Bruford (born 17 May 1949) is an English former drummer and percussionist who first gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock band Yes. After leaving Yes in 1972, Bruford spent the rest of the 1970s recording ...

* '' Feels Good to Me'' ( EG, 1978) With

Rainer Brüninghaus Rainer Brüninghaus (born 21 November 1949) is a German jazz pianist, composer and university teacher. Career He was born in Bad Pyrmont, Lower Saxony, Germany. Rainer Brüninghaus was educated in classical piano, playing from the age of nine, ...

* '' Freigeweht'' (ECM, 1980) With

Don Cherry Donald Stewart Cherry (born February 5, 1934) is a Canadian former ice hockey player, coach, and television commentator. Cherry played one game in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Boston Bruins, and later coached the team for five se ...

* ''

Actions Action may refer to: * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video game Film * Action film, a genre of film * ''Action'' (1921 film), a film by John Ford * ''Action'' (1980 fi ...

'' (Philips, 1971) With Steve Coleman * ''

Rhythm in Mind ''Rhythm in Mind'' is an album by saxophonist Steve Coleman, recorded in 1991 and released by Novus Records. Reception The ''Toronto Star'' wrote that "the fluid emotional work of altoist Coleman headlines an octet gathering of post-bop conservat ...

'' (

Novus Novus ("new" in Latin) may refer to: Companies * Novus Biologicals, a biotech company based in Littleton, Colorado, US * Novus Entertainment, a Canadian telecommunications company * Novus International, an animal health and nutrition company * Nov ...

, 1991) With CCS * '' C.C.S.'' ( RAK, 1970) With

*'' Deep Dark Blue Centre'' (Deram, 1967) *''

Hoarded Dreams ''Hoarded Dreams'' is a live album by bassist/composer Graham Collier featuring a composition commissioned for the Bracknell Jazz Festival by the Arts Council of Great Britain in 1983 and released on the Cuneiform label in 2007. Reception All ...

'' (Cuneiform, 1983 007 With Paolino Dalla Porta * ''Tales'' (Soul Note, 1993) With

With

Pierre Favre Peter Faber (french: Pierre Lefevre or Favre, la, Petrus Faver) (13 April 1506 – 1 August 1546) was a Jesuit priest and theologian, who was also a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, along with Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier. Pope Fra ...

* ''Window Steps'' (ECM, 1995) * '' What the Dickens!'' ( Fontana, 1963) With Claudio Fasoil * ''Welcome'' (Soul Note, 1987) * ''Guest'' (Soul Note, 1994) * ''Ten Tributes'' (1995) With

* ''

Rambler Rambler or Ramble may refer to: Places * Rambler, Wyoming * Rambler Channel (藍巴勒海峽), separates Tsing Yi Island and the mainland New Territories in Hong Kong * The Ramble and Lake, Central Park, an area within New York City's Centr ...

'' (ECM, 1985) With

* ''Globe Unity 67 & 70'' ( Atavistic, 2001), 1970 recording only * ''Live in Wuppertal'' ( FMP, 1973) * ''Hamburg '74'' with the

NDR Chor The NDR Chor (North German Radio Choir) is the choir of the German broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), based in Hamburg. It was founded in 1946, with Max Thurn as the first director of then 55 singers. The group has participated in premiere ...

(FMP, 1979) * ''Evidence Vol. 1'' (FMP, 1976; reissued on ''Rumbling'', 1991) * ''Into the Valley Vol. 2'' (FMP, 1976; reissued on ''Rumbling'', 1991) * ''FMP S 6...Plus'' (FMP, digital download, 2012) * ''Jahrmarkt/Local Fair'' (Po Torch, 1977) * ''Improvisations'' ( JAPO/ ECM, 1977) * ''Compositions'' (JAPO/ECM, 1979) * ''Intergalactic Blow'' (JAPO, 1983) * ''20th Anniversary'' (recorded 1986, FMP, 1993) * ''40 Years'' (Intakt, 2007) With Paul Gonsalves * ''

Humming Bird Hummingbirds are birds native to the Americas and comprise the biological family Trochilidae. With about 361 species and 113 genera, they occur from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, but the vast majority of the species are found in the tropics aro ...

'' ( Deram, 1970) With

Quintet * '' Jumpin' In'' (ECM, 1984) * ''

Seeds of Time ''Seeds of Time'' is a studio album by English bassist Dave Holland's Quintet recorded in 1984 and released on the ECM label.The Razor's Edge ''The Razor's Edge'' is a 1944 novel by W. Somerset Maugham. It tells the story of Larry Darrell, an American pilot traumatized by his experiences in World War I, who sets off in search of some transcendent meaning in his life. The story beg ...

'' (ECM, 1987) With

Philly Joe Jones Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American jazz drummer. Biography Early career As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on ''The Kiddie Show'' on the Philadelphia radio station WIP. He wa ...

* '' Trailways Express'' (

Black Lion Black Lion, Black Lions, or Blacklions may refer to: Businesses and organisations * Black Lion, Hammersmith, a London pub * Black Lion, Kilburn, a London pub * Black Lion Records, a British jazz record company * Black Lions Films, associated wit ...

, 1968

971 Year 971 ( CMLXXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * Battle of Dorostolon: A Byzantine expeditionary army (possibly 30–40,000 men) ...

With Chris Kase * ''A Song We Once Knew'' (Satchmo Jazz, 2000) With Andy Middleton * ''Reinventing the World'' (2003) With

Joni Mitchell Roberta Joan "Joni" Mitchell ( Anderson; born November 7, 1943) is a Canadian-American musician, producer, and painter. Among the most influential singer-songwriters to emerge from the 1960s folk music circuit, Mitchell became known for her sta ...

* ''

Travelogue Travelogue may refer to: Genres * Travel literature, a record of the experiences of an author travelling * Travel documentary A travel documentary is a documentary film, television program, or online series that describes travel in general or ...

'' (

Nonesuch __NOTOC__ Nonesuch may refer to: Plants * ''Lychnis chalcedonica'', a wildflower * ''Medicago lupulina'', a wildflower Places and structures *Nonesuch, Kentucky *Nonesuch Island, Bermuda *Nonesuch Mine, Michigan *Nonesuch Palace, mis-spelling of ...

, 2002) With Roscoe Mitchell *'' Sketches from Bamboo'' (Moers Music, 1979) With Louis Moholo-Moholo * '' Spirits Rejoice!'' (Ogun, 1978) With Enrico Pieranunzi * ''As Never Before'' (2008) With

Wadada Leo Smith Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (born December 18, 1941) is an American trumpeter and composer, working primarily in the fields of avant-garde jazz and free improvisation. He was one of three finalists for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Music for ''Ten Free ...

* ''

Divine Love Love of God can mean either love for God or love by God. Love for God (''philotheia'') is associated with the concepts of worship, and devotions towards God. The Greek term ''theophilia'' means the love or favour of God, and ''theophilos'' mean ...

'' (ECM, 1978) With Thomas Stabenow * ''What’s New'' (2010) With

David Sylvian David Sylvian (born David Alan Batt, 23 February 1958) is an English musician, singer and songwriter who came to prominence in the late 1970s as frontman and principal songwriter of the band Japan. The band's androgynous look and increasingly ...

* ''

Brilliant Trees ''Brilliant Trees'' is the first solo album by the British singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released in June 1984. The album peaked at number 4 on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified Gold by the British Phonographic Industry for sales in e ...

'' (

Virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

, 1984) * '' Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities'' (Virgin, 1985) * '' Gone to Earth'' (Virgin, 1986) * ''

Dead Bees on a Cake ''Dead Bees on a Cake'' is a solo album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released in March 1999. It was his first solo album in 12 years since ''Secrets of the Beehive.'' The album peaked at no. 31 in the UK Albums Chart at release ...

'' (Virgin, 1999) With

John Surman John Douglas Surman (born 30 August 1944) is an English jazz saxophone, bass clarinet, and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music. He has composed and performed music for dance performanc ...

* ''John Surman'' (Deram, 1969) With

* '' Old Friends, New Friends'' (ECM, 1979) With Glauco Venier Trio * ''

Gorizia Gorizia (; sl, Gorica , colloquially 'old Gorizia' to distinguish it from Nova Gorica; fur, label= Standard Friulian, Gurize, fur, label= Southeastern Friulian, Guriza; vec, label= Bisiacco, Gorisia; german: Görz ; obsolete English ''Gorit ...

'' (Artesuono, 2013) With Ernst Vranckx * ''A Child’s Blessing'' (1998) With Fabio Zeppetella * ''Moving Lines'' (1995)

References

External links

Kenny Wheeler, Trumpeter and Flugelhornist, Dies at 84
at ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade of growth ...

''
2003 Interview with journalist John Eyles at ''All About Jazz''

* ttp://www.discogs.com/artist/Kenny%20Wheeler/-Releases/-Albums?page=1 Kenny Wheeler discography at discogs {{DEFAULTSORT:Wheeler, Kenny 1930 births 2014 deaths Avant-garde jazz musicians Canadian jazz composers Male jazz composers Canadian jazz trumpeters Male trumpeters ECM Records artists Edition artists Free improvisation Honorary Members of the Royal Academy of Music Musicians from Toronto Nucleus (band) members Officers of the Order of Canada Post-bop trumpeters The Royal Conservatory of Music alumni United Jazz + Rock Ensemble members 20th-century Canadian composers 20th-century trumpeters 20th-century Canadian male musicians Berlin Contemporary Jazz Orchestra members Azimuth (band) members The Dedication Orchestra members Incus Records artists Edition Records artists 20th-century jazz composers