Gordon Beck

Gordon Beck ( born September 16, 1936 in London, † 6 November 2011) was a British jazz musician ( piano and composition).

Life and work

Beck was born in 1936 at London's Brixton District. He initially had a classical education on piano, but then became a draftsman. He worked for a year in Canada, where his interest in jazz awoke. From 1962 he played in the band by Tony Kinsey, then several years in the quintet Tubby Hayes and as a companion of Annie Ross. Together with Tony Oxley and bassist Jeff Clyne, he founded a trio that grossed more disks, including one with John McLaughlin as a guest. From 1969 to 1972 he played in the European festival very successful European Rhythm Machine by Phil Woods. Then Beck founded the group Gyroscope, but also played with Ian Carr's Nucleus and the Piano Conclave of George Gruntz. He also worked as a studio musician, inter alia, Chris Hinze and Mel Torme. Then he was a member of the group of Didier Lockwood, played with Allan Holdsworth on a world tour in 1985 and accompanied Helen Merrill. Since the 1990s, electronic activities move into the foreground.