John Dankworth

Most of the world knew John Dankworth best as Cleo Laine's longtime husband and accompanist, but he was a steady, if not especially inventive, player for many decades. He started his career in a novelty and traditional ensemble called the Garbage Men, led by Freddy Mirfield. Dankworth studied at the Royal Academy of Music from 1944-1946, then began playing on transatlantic liners in order to come to America and hear jazz. He switched to alto sax in the late '40s, and in 1948 was a founding member of the Club Eleven. He began the Johnny Dankworth Seven in 1950, and from 1953 to...