Keith Tippett, jazz pianist extraordinaire, died today. He suffered ill health following a heart attack in 2018.

A native of Bristol, he attended the Barry Summer School in the late 1960's. It was here that he met fellow musicians Marc Charig, Elton Dean, and Nick Evans (a native of Newport) with whom he formed the Keith Tippett Sextet. In 1971 he presided over his 50 strong avante-gard jazz orchestra, Centipede, which recorded, 'Septober Energy,' a masterpiece of major standing. Declining the invitation to join King Crimson in 1970, he nevertheless played on 3 of their albums. Crimson's single, 'Cat Food,' (1970) show-cased his wonderful talent.

https://youtu.be/uQuAboEvags

In later life, he was an extra-mural lecturer in Composition at the Welsh College of Music & Dancing in Cardiff.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Tippett

RIP Keith. May his memory be a blessing.

StT.
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