Bill Le Sage
Bill Le Sage | |
|---|---|
| Born | William A. Le Sage 20 January 1927 London, England |
| Died | 31 October 2001 (aged 74) Ealing, West London, England |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupations | Musician Bandleader Arranger Composer |
| Instruments | Vibraphone Piano |
| Years active | 1945–2001 |
William A. Le Sage (20 January 1927 – 31 October 2001) was a British pianist, vibraphonist, arranger, composer and bandleader.[1]
Early life
Le Sage was born in London on 20 January 1927.[2] His father, William (1899-1951) was a drummer and his two uncles were both musicians (George - trumpet, saxophone and Ernie - guitar).[2] He started playing the ukulele at the age of eight, and drums at fifteen.[2] He was self-taught as a pianist.[1]
Later life and career
Le Sage's career began in 1945, after he had returned to London after being an evacuee in Sussex, when he led a sextet.[2] He was then a member of army bands while serving with the Royal Signals.[2] He played piano for the Johnny Dankworth Seven in March 1950, but soon switched to vibraphone.[3] He left in 1954 to join the various small groups led by the drummer Tony Kinsey, with whom he stayed until 1961.[1] He then joined baritone sax player Ronnie Ross, with whom he co-led various line-ups until 1966.[2] During this period, Le Sage also played with Kenny Baker's Dozen.[2] He began writing music for television and films.[2]
During the 1960s, Le Sage was with Jack Parnell's ATV orchestra, the Chris Barber Band, and led his group, Directions in Jazz.[2] His composer credits included scores for the films The Tell-Tale Heart (1960), Tarnished Heroes (1961), The Silent Invasion (1961), Two Wives One Wedding (1961), Strip Tease Murder (1963) and The Court Martial of Major Keller (1964).[4]
He accompanied visiting American musicians, including guitarist Tal Farlow, with whom he struck up a close musical partnership, on an annual basis.[2] In 1969, he formed the Bebop Preservation Society quintet, which he continued for more than two decades.[2] Le Sage also worked with Barbara Thompson's Jubiaba and others.[1][3] During the 1990s, he occasionally played with pianist Tony Lee's group on vibraphone.
He died in London on 31 October 2001.[1]
Discography
As leader/co-leader
- Bill's Recipes (1959)
- Light Comedy (1961)
- Presenting The Bill Le Sage – Ronnie Ross Quartet (1963
- Directions in Jazz (1964)
- Road to Ellingtonia (1965)
- Vier Celli + Jazz (1965)
- Twice Times Keyboard (1966, with Ronnie Ross)
- Vibraphone Jazz Quartet (1971, with Tony Kinsey)
- Wavendon - Jazz At The Stables (1980, with Ronnie Scott Quartet)
- Confirmation (2001)
- The Right Vibes (2001)
- Live at the Bull – Tribute Vols. 1–2 (2007)
- Soho Scene '64 (2016, but recorded in 1964, various artists)
- New Directions in Jazz (2022, with Ronnie Ross)
- The Mesmirist (unknown)
As sideman
- British Jazz (1956, with Johnny Keating and All Stars)
- English Jazz (1956, with Johnny Keating and All Stars)
- Play a 'Jazz at the Flamingo' Session (1957, with The Tony Kinsey Quartet
- It Swings (1958, with Sid Phillips)
- Red Bird Jazz & Poetry (1959, with Christopher Logue and Tony Kinsey)
- An Evening with Tony Kinsey 'Mr. Percussion' (1961, with The Tony Kinsey Quintet)
- Cy and I (1965, with Cy Grant)
- Hi Hawaii (1967, with Wout Steenhuis)
- Guitars for Girl Friday (1967, with Wout Steenhuis)
- Cleopatra's Needle (1968, with Ronnie Ross)
- Harold McNair (1968, with The Harold McNair Quartet)
- Islands in the Sun (1968, with Cy Grant, Papette & the Islanders Steelband, and Ken Kirkham and the Islanders)
- The Be-Bop Preservation Society (1971, with The Be-Bop Preservation Society)
- Live at Fulham Town Hall (1986, with The Charlie Watts Orchestra)
- Psychomania (Original Soundtrack Music) (unknown, with John Cameron)
References
- ^ a b c d e Fordham, John. Obituary, The Guardian, 2 November, 2001
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Chilton, John (2004). Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.). Continuum. pp. 219–220. ISBN 978-0-8264-7234-2.
- ^ a b "Bill Le Sage". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Bill Le Sage". bfi.org. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.