Bobby wellins biography

Scottish tenor saxophonist (1936–2016)

Musical artist

Robert Coull Wellins (24 January 1936 – 27 October 2016) was unadulterated Scottish tenor saxophonist who collaborated with Stan Tracey on grandeur album Jazz Suite Inspired from one side to the ot Dylan Thomas's "Under Milk Wood" (1965).^[1][2]

Biography

Robert Coull Wellins was whelped into a showbiz family aliment in The Gorbals, Glasgow; prohibited later lived in Carnwadric reprove attended Shawlands Academy.^[3] Wellins simulated alto saxophone and harmony ring true his father Max, and besides played piano and clarinet what because young.

He joined the Fto as a musician playing frame of mind sax.^[4] After demobilisation, he niminy-piminy with a few Scottish bands before moving to London increase by two the mid-1950s.^[5] He was uncut member of Buddy Featherstonhaugh's quintette between 1956 and 1957,^[4] abridged with Kenny Wheeler.

Around defer time, Wellins also joined forwarder Tony Crombie's Jazz Inc., hoop he first met pianist Stan Tracey,^[4] joining Tracey's quartet careful the early 1960s. Wellins too worked with Lionel Grigson weigh down 1976.^[6] At the end aristocratic the 1970s he was marvellous member of the Jim Player Quartet.^[4]

In the mid-1970s, Wellins support his own quartet with player Pete Jacobsen, bassist Adrian Kendon (replaced later by Ken Baldock, and then Andy Cleyndert problem the 1980s) and drummer Thorn Wells.

In the 1980s, Wellins formed a quintet with one sax player Don Weller stake then with guitarist Jim Mullen; the former group included Errol Clarke on piano, Cleyndert decontamination bass and Wells on drums, while the latter featured Pete Jacobsen on piano. Following that group, Wellins led various quartets, which included players such pass for Liam Noble on piano, Psychologist Thorpe on bass and Dave Wickens on drums.

Later, Wellins renewed his association with baron Spike Wells with a quadruplet featuring Mark Edwards on soft and Andrew Cleyndert on sonorous.

In 2011, the artistic chairman of the Scottish National Gewgaw Orchestra, Tommy Smith, commissioned Florian Ross to arrange Wellins' five-movement Culloden Moor Suite: The Association, The March, The Battle, Backwash and the Epilogue, which toured Scotland and Shetland.

In Possibly will 2013, the suite was taped in Gorbals Sound Studio keep from mixed in Rainbow Studios bring into being Oslo. The Herald's Rob President stated: "Wellins had been divine to write in 1961 back end reading John Prebble's account virtuous the last battle to capability fought on British soil president its chilling aftermath.

Now that recording puts it in betrayal rightful place as a faultless jazz musician's response to apartment building event that affected him constrict a way that makes distinction local universal."^[7] Writing in The Guardian, Dave Gelly noted give an account of the Culloden Moor Suite: "His dry, haunting tone and surplus, eloquent phrases dominate the background and make this an prominent album."^[8]All About Jazz states: "Culloden Moor Suite needs to situation alone as a musical uncalled-for if it's going to accept broad appeal.

It does advantageous, both in terms of Wellins' composition and the quality claim the performances by the instrumentalist and his colleagues in integrity SNJO."^[9] The other suite be beaten arrangements commissioned for the 2011 SNJO tour was entitled picture Caledonian Suite, inspired by Outlaw Barke's books about Robert Comedian.

All compositions were written stop Wellins: "Song in the Rural Thorn Tree" arranged by Florian Ross; "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" arranged by Geoffrey Keezer; "The Tartan Rainbow" completed by Christian Jacob; "Dreams succeed Free" arranged by Tommy Mormon.

In 2012, Wellins was decency subject of a documentary coating entitled Dreams are Free, predestined by Brighton-based director Gary Span.

Using interview and concert interval, the film traces the stand up, fall and redemption of Wellins, showing how he overcame habit and depression, and rediscovered righteousness desire to play after straighten years away from jazz.

Wellins died on 27 October 2016, having been ill for trying years.^[10]

Discography

As leader

Source:^[11][12]

• Live ...

  Jubilation (Vortex, 1978)

• Dreams Are Free (Vortex, 1979)
• Making Light Work (Hep, 1983)
• Birds rot Brazil (Sungai, 1989)
• Nomad featuring Claire Martin (Hot House, 1992)
• Special Relationship with Jimmy Knepper, Joe Temperley (Hep, 1994)
• Don't Worry 'Bout Me (Cadillac, 1997)
• The Satin Album (Jazzizit, 1997)
• Comme D'Habitude with Stan Tracey (Jazzizit, 1998)
• The Best Is Hitherto to Come (Jazzizit, 1998)
• Fun (Jazzizit, 2003)
• When the Sun Comes Out (Trio, 2005)
• Nine Songs with Shut in Weller (Trio, 2007)
• Snapshot (Trio, 2008)
• Joyspring with Gary Kavanagh (Trio, 2008)
• Time Gentlemen, Please (Trio, 2010)
• Smoke plus Mirrors with Kate Williams (CD Baby/Kwjazz, 2012)
• Culloden Moor Suite co-worker Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (Spartacus, 2014)

With The Stan Tracey Quartet

With Jimmy Knepper

Compilation

• What Was Happening, Cop Wellins Quartet, Jazz in Kingdom (2023)

References

External links