Henry Mackenzie, (February 15, 1923 - September 2, 2007) was
a clarinettist and saxophonist who enjoyed a high-profile career in British
jazz and big-band music after first making a reputation in his native
Edinburgh. Famed for his extended tenure under bandleader Ted Heath, Henry
MacKenzie towers among the premier clarinetists in British jazz. A
sophisticated yet fiery player, he also enjoyed a long career as a first-call
session player, even contributing to the Beatles' landmark Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band.
Kenny Baker (trumpet), Danny Moss (saxophone) and Henry
Mackenzie (clarinet)
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Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, MacKenzie studied accordion
as a child and later played in a local Boys' Brigade band. By his late teens he
discovered jazz and turned to clarinet and tenor saxophone, studying under area
musician Joe Marsh, an alumnus of the Edinburgh Empire pit orchestra.
Here's St. Louis Blues (feat. Henry MacKenzie)
After a brief apprenticeship as an auto mechanic,
Mackenzie launched his professional music career in the house band at the
Princes Street nightspot the Havana Club. Shortly after signing on at Leith's
Eldorado Ballroom in 1942, he was called to serve in World War II, and as a
member of the Royal Army Service Corps he played in the military band.
On returning to civilian life in 1947, MacKenzie joined bandleader Tommy Sampson, and over the next year toured Britain, Italy, and Germany. Following a brief tenure with Paul Fenoulhet, he was recruited by Heath in September 1949, and remained until Heath's death in late 1969.
On returning to civilian life in 1947, MacKenzie joined bandleader Tommy Sampson, and over the next year toured Britain, Italy, and Germany. Following a brief tenure with Paul Fenoulhet, he was recruited by Heath in September 1949, and remained until Heath's death in late 1969.
Here's St. Louis Blues (feat. Henry MacKenzie)
from above 1959 album.
Often earning favourable comparison to Duke Ellington's
famed clarinetist Jimmy Hamilton, MacKenzie was respected by critics and
audiences alike for his elegant, exacting performances. In December 1966, he
joined fellow clarinettists Robert Burns and Frank Reidy in the studio to
record the whimsical "When I'm Sixty-Four," one of the more beloved
contributions to the Beatles' epochal Sgt. Pepper.
After Heath's passing, MacKenzie was a favourite of
arrangers including Henry Mancini, Nelson Riddle, and Billy May, and was a
fixture of several Heath Orchestra revivals led by trombonist Don Lusher. In
addition, during the 1990s he led his own quintet for the radio program Music
While You Work, and performed for TV's Come Dancing. Mackenzie also played with
George Chisholm's Gentlemen of Jazz.. After a brief illness, MacKenzie died in
Surrey on September 2, 2007.
(Edited mainly from All Music bio by Jason Ankeny)
1 comment:
For “Ted Heath And His Music - Big Band Blues (1959)” go here:
http://www38.zippyshare.com/v/oWPFpXmU/file.html
A1 St. Louis Blues (feat. Henry MacKenzie)
A2 The Memphis Blues (feat. Henry MacKenzie & Keith Christie)
A3 Blues in the Night (feat. Eddie Blair)
A4 Limehouse Blues (feat. Stan Tracey)
A5 Basin Street Blues (feat. Keith Christie)
A6 Jazz Me Blues
B1 St. James Infirmary (feat. Keith Christie & Ronnie Chamberlain)
B2 Tin Roof Blues (feat. Keith Christie & Don Lusher)
B3 Its the Bluest Kind of Blues My Baby Sings (feat. Bob Efford)
B4 Honky Tonk Train Blues
(B5 A Blues Serenade (feat. Ronnie Chamberlain)
B6 Royal Garden Blues (feat. Keith Christie & Bob Efford)
Clarinet – Henry MacKenzie
Piano – Stan Tracey
Soprano Saxophone – Ronnie Chamberlain
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Efford
Trombone – Don Lusher, Keith Christie
Trumpet – Eddie Blair
A big thank you to Forgotten Masterpieces Blog for original post
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