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All Music Guide:
As fierce and fiery as any trumpet and flügelhorn stylist, yet also capable of a shimmering lyricism, Harry Beckett was an important part of Britain's jazz community for decades following his arrival on the scene during the 1950s. Born in Barbados on May 30, 1935, he moved to England in 1954, then joined Graham Collier's band in the early '60s, remaining with it until 1977. Beckett was featured in the film All Night Long with Charles Mingus in 1961. He also worked with Mike Westbrook's orchestra and Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath. Beckett played with the big bands of Neil Ardley, Mike Gibbs, and John Warren, and was part of the London Jazz Composer's Orchestra. He was also a member of small combos led by Tony Oxley, John Surman, and Ray Russell. Beckett played with the Stan Tracey Octet in the mid-'70s, and also worked with Elton Dean and Zila, a group led by Dudu Pukwana. He recorded as a leader for various labels including Jazzprint, ITM, RCA, and Philips. As an indication of his stylistic breadth, Beckett's last album before his death was the 2008 On-U-Sound release The Modern Sound of Harry Beckett, produced by Adrian Sherwood and featuring reggae, dub, and dance music influences. Harry Beckett died in London following a stroke on July 22, 2010; he was 75 years old.
Wikipedia:
Harold Winston "Harry" Beckett (30 May 1935 – 22 July 2010) was a British trumpeter and flugelhorn player.
Biography
A resident in the UK since 1954, Harry Beckett had an international reputation. In 1961, he played with Charles Mingus in the film All Night Long. In the 1960s he worked and recorded within the band of bass player and composer Graham Collier. Beginning in 1970, he lead groups of his own, recording for Philips, RCA and Ogun Records amongst other labels.
He was a key figure of important groups in the British free jazz/improvised music scene, including Ian Carr's Nucleus, the Brotherhood of Breath and The Dedication Orchestra, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, London Improvisers Orchestra, John Surman's Octet, Django Bates, Ronnie Scott's Quintet, Kathy Stobart, Charlie Watts, Stan Tracey's Big Band and Octet; Elton Dean's Ninesense. He has also recorded with Keef Hartley, Jah Wobble, David Sylvian and worked with David Murray. He toured abroad with Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Keith Tippett, John Tchicai, Joachim Kühn, Dudu Pukwana's Zila, George Gruntz's Bands, Belgian quintet The Wrong Object, Pierre Dørge's New Jungle Band and Annie Whitehead's Robert Wyatt project, Soupsongs, which also featured Phil Manzanera and Julie Tippetts, amongst other jazz and rock luminaries.
His most recent, dub-oriented album, The Modern Sound of Harry Beckett, was produced by famed British producer Adrian Sherwood and released on On-U Sound in late 2008.
In 1972, Beckett won the Melody Maker jazz Poll as 'Top Trumpeter in Britain'. He was a member of the Orchestre National de Jazz between 1997 and 2000.
Beckett died on 22 July 2010 after suffering a stroke.
