Fred Hunt
Encyclopedia
Herbert Frederick Hunt was an English jazz
pianist.
Hunt played early on in London with Mike Daniels
and Cy Laurie
(1951), then joined Alex Welsh
's band from 1954 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1974. As Welsh's primary pianist, he became one of England's leading trad jazz
musicians, and recorded with Eddie Davis
, Bud Freeman
, Eddie Miller, and Ben Webster
in 1967. After leaving Welsh in 1974, he played in Copenhagen
and South Africa
, then split his time after 1976 between Britain and Denmark
. He led a trio featuring Lennie Hastings
from 1978, and worked frequently at London's Pizza Express
until his death. He toured with Wild Bill Davison
late in the 1970s and played with Welsh once more in the early 1980s before retiring due to failing health.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
pianist.
Hunt played early on in London with Mike Daniels
Mike Daniels
Mike Daniels is a British dixieland revivalist jazz trumpeter and bandleader born in Stanmore, Middlesex, UK, probably best known for his work with his own group The Delta Jazzmen. Some of his other bands have featured talents such as Keith Nichols and John Chilton.-References:...
and Cy Laurie
Cy Laurie
Cyril "Cy" Laurie was an English jazz clarinetist and bandleader.Laure was an autodidact on clarinet. He put together his own band in 1947; George Melly debuted in this ensemble in 1948...
(1951), then joined Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh
Alex Welsh was a Scottish jazz musician, who played the cornet, trumpet and sang.-Biography:Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Welsh started playing in the teenage 'Leith Silver Band' and gigged with Archie Semple's 'Capital Jazz Band'. After moving to London in the early 1950s, Welsh formed his own band...
's band from 1954 to 1962 and again from 1964 to 1974. As Welsh's primary pianist, he became one of England's leading trad jazz
Trad jazz
Trad jazz - short for "traditional jazz" - refers to the Dixieland and Ragtime jazz styles of the early 20th century in contrast to any more modern style....
musicians, and recorded with Eddie Davis
Eddie Davis (saxophonist)
Edward Davis , who performed and recorded as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:...
, Bud Freeman
Bud Freeman
Lawrence "Bud" Freeman was a U.S. jazz musician, bandleader, and composer, known mainly for playing the tenor saxophone, but also able at the clarinet. He had a smooth and full tenor sax style with a heavy robust swing. He was one of the most influential and important jazz tenor saxophonists of...
, Eddie Miller, and Ben Webster
Ben Webster
Benjamin Francis Webster , a.k.a. "The Brute" or "Frog," was an influential American jazz tenor saxophonist. Webster, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was considered one of the three most important "swing tenors" along with Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young...
in 1967. After leaving Welsh in 1974, he played in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, then split his time after 1976 between Britain and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. He led a trio featuring Lennie Hastings
Lennie Hastings
Leonard "Lennie" Hastings was an English jazz drummer.Hastings played in military bands during World War II, then played with Freddy Randall and Alex Welsh...
from 1978, and worked frequently at London's Pizza Express
Pizza Express
PizzaExpress is a restaurant group with over 400 restaurants across the United Kingdom and 40 overseas in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan and the Middle East. It was founded in 1965 by Peter Boizot.In Ireland, PizzaExpress trades under the name Milano....
until his death. He toured with Wild Bill Davison
Wild Bill Davison
Wild' Bill Davison was a fiery jazz cornet player who emerged in the 1920s, but did not achieve recognition until the 1940s...
late in the 1970s and played with Welsh once more in the early 1980s before retiring due to failing health.