Lionel Grigson

At 52 years old, Lionel Grigson physical status not available right now. We will update Lionel Grigson's height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, and measurements.

Lionel Grigson (February 1942 – June 1994) was a British jazz pianist, cornettist, composer, writer, and mentor who, in the 1980s, began the jazz class at the Guildhall School of Music.

"Whether he inspired or inflamed, Grigson's energies often served as a catalyst and promoter of jazz education in the United Kingdom," Simon Purcell wrote in The Independent. "Within the context of a leading international conservatoire, Grigson's work in London, he led to a generation of jazz educators with a deep understanding of jazz, classical, and even all music, and as a result, a generation of jazz educators with a solid grounding Practical Jazz (1988), Jazz From Scratch (1991), and A Jazz Chord Book are among his books, as well as research into Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Thelonious Monk's music. Lionel Grigson, the only son of poet and writer Geoffrey Grigson, died in London at the age of 52.

Early life and education

Lionel Jermyn Grigson was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, to poet and scholar Geoffrey Grigson (1905–85) and his second wife Berta Emma Kunert (1916–2001). Lionel was educated at Dartington Hall School and King's College, Cambridge, where he contributed writings on jazz to the university journal Granta under the editorship of Alexis Lykiard. Margaret Busby, a co-founder of Allison & Busby, was Grigson's first wife.

Source

Music career

At Dartington's academy, Grigson began playing jazz at the age of 12. He was co-leader of Art Themen' award-winning Cambridge University Jazz Band, assuaging Grigson's "off-the-wall" fame in the 1960s, including Dave Gelly, John Hart, and Jonathan Lynn. "The undergraduate modern jazz scene revolved around Lionel Grigson by 1962," Spike Wells has argued. "But, as last year, the absolutely standout musicianship and judges' pick came from Cambridge, Dave Gelly, Art Themen (tenors), Lionel Grigson (a sensitive trumpet player who only needs a little more detail), and John Hart (bass). This group was left standing for conviction and control." "While we were the 'university' rhythm section and looked more like a Bill Evans-style rhythm section," Grigson's university contemporary John Cameron has shared his experience with the Cambridge "town" rhythm section. Grigson is cast as a performer in the Music Department in a 1963 short drama film titled Duet. He joined Brian Gascoigne, John Hart, and Jonathan Lynn as a performer in the Music Department.

Grigson performed with the New Jazz Orchestra from 1963 to 1970, "a young and exciting big band whose members included several college jazzmen." Among those notables are conductor/arranger Neil Ardley (Bristol), tenor-saxist Dave Gelly and pianist Lionel Grigson (both from Cambridge), trumpet player Ian Carr (Durham) and trombonist Paul Rutherford, and London music colleges. John Hart, an ex-Cambridge man, is the same as the other in the usual dep. Tony Reeves, a regular bassist, is a member of the Birmingham Reeves. The band, which includes french horn, tuba, and flute, has been highly welcomed at the Marquee Club and several South London venues, including the Green Man at Blackheath."

Grigson lived in Old Brompton, London, in the 1960s, and he led his own jazz bands with musicians including John Hart (bass), Pete Burden (trum), Pete Wells (altos), Mike Smith (bass), and John Hart (drums), Andy Barks (drums), Spike Wells (drums), Mick Pyne, and many others. "Lionel, John Hart, and Philly Joe Jones made up one of the most exciting rhythm sections I'll ever hear" in Alexis Lykiard's recollection. Tony Levin on drums and Daryl Runswick on bass were among the Lionel-Pete Burden quintet members in 1969. Tom Norris, a musician and songwriter, was one of the younger performers who appeared with Grigson.

Grigson was one of the original members of If (longside saxophonists Dick Morrissey and Dave Quincy, guitarist Terry Smith, Spike Wells, and Daryl Runswick on bass), and their second album, If 2 (1970), is by Busby/Grigson.

He accompanied the group "Afro-Latin-Jazz ensemble" in the 1970s, "combining straight jazz with African, calypso, Latin, and funk elements," the band's line-ups included Art Themen, Harry Beckett, John Mumford (trombone), Pete Burden, Alan Jackson, Paul Whitten (bass), and singer Jeanette Tavernier. Grigson played house piano at Brighton Jazz Club in 1980, and he was musical director of Ziggy's Jazz Club, a testing ground for new British jazz, at a Sunday-night jam on Sunday night at The Albany, London's Great Portland Street. Grigson has performed with some of jazz's most influential international musicians, including Freddie Hubbard, Philly Joe Jones, Johnny Griffin, and Kenny Clarke.

Source