First tribute. Jacqui Dankworth attended a musical celebration at her late father’s school – Sir George Monoux College, Walthamstow – yesterday evening. She also sang- briefly. She unveiled this plaque, naming the school’s Music Suite in honour of her father. Also in attendance – incidentally – was cricket legend – former vice captain of England under Peter May, President of the MCC and Chair of Selectors for England, Douglas Insole CBE- a former schoolmate and a lifelong friend of Sir John’s.
Second. Alyn Shipton informs me that his 2007 radio feature about John Dankworth in South Africa is to be repeated this Sunday at 9 30pm on Radio 3. Dankworth returned to South Africa after more than 50 years, having been a key figure in helping artists like Hugh Masekela build careers abroad in the apartheid era. Here’s the link.
Third. Jazz Line-Up on March 21st will also be about JD. A re-assembling of the John Dankworth 7 took place in the garden at Wavendon in 2005. Producer Keith Loxam recorded original band members Eddie Harvey (piano- rather than trombone), Tony Kinsey ( drums), Don Rendell (saxophone), with younger Dankworth band members such as Guy Barker (trumpet and Mark Nightingale (trombone.)
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John is also the subject of Radio 3's Jazz Library on 27 March with a conversation I recorded with him in 2002 for Jazz File. choosing his best recordings.
An apt tribute indeed. I have yet to meet an Old Monovian who does not bathe in the reflected glory of JD's time at one of the finest Grammar Schools in Essex (as was). I hope that the music department at Monoux is still doing the jazz thang as it was in the seventies.