British Jazz Awards winner Alec Dankworth has worked with artists such as Stephanne Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim, Van Morrison and The Dave Brubeck Quartet. The Alec Dankworth Trio is his current group.
He studied bass at Berklee College, Boston and in 1980 he joined the Cleo Laine/John Dankworth quintet, touring the USA, Australia and Europe. H...
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British Jazz Awards winner Alec Dankworth has worked with artists such as Stephanne Grappelli, Abdullah Ibrahim, Van Morrison and The Dave Brubeck Quartet. The Alec Dankworth Trio is his current group.
He studied bass at Berklee College, Boston and in 1980 he joined the Cleo Laine/John Dankworth quintet, touring the USA, Australia and Europe. His association with Nigel Kennedy has included a duet recording of Duke Ellington's 'Black, Brown and Beige' suite and also a UK tour, performing Vivaldi's Four Seasons.
Alec has recorded with Buddy de Franco, John Williams, James Galway and the London Symphony Orchestra. Artists he has performed with include Mose Allison, Guy Barker, Eddie Daniels, Billy Eckstine, Georgie Fame, Stephanne Grappelli, Johnny Griffin, Pete King, Abdullah Ibrahim, Julian Joseph, Marian McPartland, David Murray, Anita O'Day, Dave O'Higgins, Courtney Pine, George Shearing, Tommy Smith, Clark Terry, Lew Tabakin, Stan Tracey, Mel Torme, and the Royal Ballet! He has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Albert Hall.
A collaboration with sister Jackie Dankworth has encompassed tours of Hawaii, the Far East and Beirut. Alec co-leads the 'Alec and John Dankworth Generation Band` which has recorded two CDs to date.
Alec joined the Van Morrison group in 1995, touring Europe and America and recording three albums including 'The Healing Game'. Alec was voted 'Best Bass player' in the 1995 and 1997 British Jazz Awards. He was co-artistic director of the 'Jazz Encounters at Wigmore Hall' series.
In the August '97, Alec moved to New York. He has since performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, with a residency at 'Birdland'.
In August '98 Alec joined The Dave Brubeck Quartet, performing Quartet, Pops and Choral concerts in the US, and a UK tour and live recording in October '98. His association with Van Morrison continued with concerts in UK / Europe. In '99 Alec performed concerts in the US with Dave Brubeck including the New Orleans Jazz Festival, Carnegie Hall, a live webcast from Birdland Jazz Club, NY and a European Tour. In 2000 Alec continued to perform concerts around the US with Dave Brubeck, and in April returned to Europe for a 2nd Tour.
In May 2001 Alec left the Brubeck Quartet, and is based in London. He is now working once again with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and with the Tina May Quartet.
In 2002 The Alec Dankworth Trio was formed – an acoustic trio performing an eclectic mixture of originals and standards by composers ranging from Dave Brubeck to Abdullah Ibrahim. Featuring Phil Robson on guitar and Julian Arguelles on saxes.
Some recent CDs on which Alec is featured include The Dave Brubeck Quartet 'The Crossing', and The Bill Lesage Trio 'The Right Vibes', and in July 2003 the Alec Dankworth Trio released its first CD 'If You're Passing By' on Candid records.
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