Brian John Heatley (17 February 1933 – 10 November 2021), better known as Spike Heatley, was a British jazz double bassist.
Early life
Heatley was born in
Muswell Hill, North London in February 1933.
Career
He appeared with
Vic Ash's sextet in 1958, together with
Ian Hamer (trumpet),
Johnny Scott (flugelhorn), and
Alan Branscombe (piano) and had then joined
The Jazz Couriers some weeks before they disbanded.
[The Jazz Couriers at David Taylor's British jazz web site](_blank)
He played briefly with the quartet
Tubby Hayes formed immediately afterwards with fellow Couriers Terry Shannon and
Phil Seamen. Heatley then joined pianist
Eddie Thompson's house trio for the opening year at the original
Ronnie Scott's
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club that has operated in Soho, London, since 1959.
History
The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was set up and managed by musicians Ronnie Sco ...
in Gerrard Street, while also playing with
John Dankworth.
Heatley stayed with Dankworth until 1962, then joined the
Tony Coe Quintet, and toured with trumpeter
Kenny Baker. In 1963, he was with the
Bill Le Sage and
Ronnie Ross quartet, with
Allan Ganley. He then began session work in the same rhythm section as
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
and
John McLaughlin. He was an early member of Alexis Korner's
Blues Incorporated. Between 1970 and 1974, he was part of the jazz-rock fusion act CCS (Collective Consciousness Society) Band, and played on recording sessions for
Rod Stewart
Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...
. In the 1970s, he was in the house band for the children's TV show ''
Play Away''.
During the 1980s and early 90s, he was with the American all-star group the Great Guitars featuring
Herb Ellis
Mitchell Herbert Ellis (August 4, 1921 – March 28, 2010), known professionally as Herb Ellis, was an American jazz guitarist. During the 1950s, he was in a trio with pianist Oscar Peterson.
Biography
Born in Farmersville, Texas, and raised ...
,
Charlie Byrd
Charlie Lee Byrd (September 16, 1925 – December 2, 1999) was an American jazz guitarist. Byrd was best known for his association with Brazilian music, especially bossa nova. In 1962, he collaborated with Stan Getz on the album '' Jazz Samba' ...
and
Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel (October 17, 1923 – May 6, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Known in particular for his knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies, he was a member of many prominent jazz groups a ...
which also sometimes featured British player,
Martin Taylor. He played in Kessel's trio with
Malcolm Mortimore, with whom he later joined Canadian pianist,
Oliver Jones.
Later life and death
Heatley died in
Dinan, France on 10 November 2021, at the age of 88. He was survived by his wife, Stevie, as well as his son and two daughters.
Obituary: Spike Heatley
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Discography
*''Presenting The Bill Le Sage - Ronnie Ross Quartet'' (April 1963) - Bill Le Sage (piano, vibes); Ronnie Ross (baritone sax); Heatley (bass); Allan Ganley (drums)
* 2003:''The Other Side of the Coin'' (Renella Records) - Spike Heatley, (double bass); Roy Williams, (trombone); Danny Moss (tenor saxophone); Mick Hanson (guitar); Dave Newton (piano); Malcolm Mortimore (drums)
* ''One for Clifford and another one for Tubby'' (Renella Records) - Spike Heatley (bass); Alan Barnes (saxes); John Horler (piano); Malcolm Mortimore (drums)
* ''Zurich Express'' (Renella Records) - Spike Heatley (leader/bass); Jim Lawless (vibraphone); Andy Williams (guitar); Malcolm Mortimore (drums)
References
External links
Ron Simmonds at Jazz Professional
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Heatley, Spike
1933 births
2021 deaths
21st-century British male musicians
21st-century double-bassists
British jazz double-bassists
British male jazz musicians
Male double-bassists
People from Muswell Hill