Patrick Mungo Smythe[1] (2 May 1923 – 6 May 1983)[2] was a Scottish jazz pianist, who rose to prominence as a member of the Joe Harriott Quintet during the 1960s.
Smythe was born in Edinburgh, Scotland,[2] the son of an Edinburgh solicitor.[1] He was educated at Winchester College and went on to study law at Oxford University.[1] The Second World War interrupted his studies, as he enlisted with the Royal Air Force, serving for five years as a night-fighter pilot.[1] After the war, he resumed his legal studies, this time at the University of Edinburgh, where he was also recognised as a talented classical and jazz pianist. After graduating, he spent several years in his father's law firm, before leaving Edinburgh for London, England, in the late 1950s in search of a professional career in music.[2]
Joe Harriottedit
After working briefly with the Jamaican trumpeter Dizzy Reece, in May 1960 he joined the quintet led by another Jamaican, alto saxophonist Joe Harriott.[2] Harriott was in the process of reshaping his band in order to begin playing his revolutionary brand of free jazz,[2] and recruited Smythe specifically for his willingness and ability to play this music, which was unheard of in Europe at the time. Smythe's graceful, lyrical phrases were the perfect complement to Harriott's increasingly abstract playing, and also to the explosive trumpet and flügelhorn of Shake Keane. Smythe, bassist Coleridge Goode and drummers Phil Seamen and (later) Bobby Orr combined effortlessly to bring full realisation to Harriott's conception of complete ensemble interaction, at the expense of traditional roles of soloist and accompanist. Smythe's pivotal role highlighted one of the principal differences between Harriott and his American counterpart Ornette Coleman,[2] who viewed the harmonic qualities of the piano, as incompatible with his own brand of free improvisation.
The Harriott quintet stayed together until 1965, recording three albums (Free Form, Abstract and Movement) while also holding a long-term residency at the Marquee Club in Soho. Smythe stayed with Harriott after the dissolution of the quintet, becoming a key member of the group Indo-Jazz Fusions,[2] co-led by Harriott and the Indian composer and violinist John Mayer. This double quintet of five Indian and five jazz musicians aimed to fuse Indian raga structures with jazz improvisation, performing and recording extensively until Harriott's departure ended the project in 1969. With his knowledge of Indian ragas, Smythe was considered by Mayer to be the bridge between the two camps.
Later career and legacyedit
In a diverse career, Smythe worked and recorded with many other jazz musicians when they passed through Britain, including Stan Getz, Paul Gonsalves, Ben Webster, Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer.[1] He worked mainly as an accompanist in the London clubs throughout the 1970s, helping bring Scottish jazz vocalist Carol Kidd to prominence. After a long illness, he died in 1983 in London, England, at the age of 60.[2] The Pat Smythe Memorial Trust was established two years later, as a registered charity to provide financial awards to young jazz musicians of outstanding talent.[2] It was funded entirely from benefit concerts and gave awards to such musicians as Julian Arguelles, Jason Rebello, Nigel Hitchcock and Richard Fairhurst.[3] The trust ran from 1985 to 2005, and is now defunct.[1]
Discographyedit
As leaderedit
UK Live: with Eddie Davis & Harold McNair 1967 Vol. 1 (Jazzhus Disk, 2012)
UK Live: with Eddie Davis & Harold McNair 1967 Vol. 2 (Jazzhus Disk, 2012)
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations September 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pat Smythe pianist news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2016 Learn how and when to remove this message Learn how and when to remove this message Patrick Mungo Smythe 1 2 May 1923 6 May 1983 2 was a Scottish jazz pianist who rose to prominence as a member of the Joe Harriott Quintet during the 1960s Contents 1 Early life 2 Joe Harriott 3 Later career and legacy 4 Discography 4 1 As leader 4 2 As sideman 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksEarly life editSmythe was born in Edinburgh Scotland 2 the son of an Edinburgh solicitor 1 He was educated at Winchester College and went on to study law at Oxford University 1 The Second World War interrupted his studies as he enlisted with the Royal Air Force serving for five years as a night fighter pilot 1 After the war he resumed his legal studies this time at the University of Edinburgh where he was also recognised as a talented classical and jazz pianist After graduating he spent several years in his father s law firm before leaving Edinburgh for London England in the late 1950s in search of a professional career in music 2 Joe Harriott editAfter working briefly with the Jamaican trumpeter Dizzy Reece in May 1960 he joined the quintet led by another Jamaican alto saxophonist Joe Harriott 2 Harriott was in the process of reshaping his band in order to begin playing his revolutionary brand of free jazz 2 and recruited Smythe specifically for his willingness and ability to play this music which was unheard of in Europe at the time Smythe s graceful lyrical phrases were the perfect complement to Harriott s increasingly abstract playing and also to the explosive trumpet and flugelhorn of Shake Keane Smythe bassist Coleridge Goode and drummers Phil Seamen and later Bobby Orr combined effortlessly to bring full realisation to Harriott s conception of complete ensemble interaction at the expense of traditional roles of soloist and accompanist Smythe s pivotal role highlighted one of the principal differences between Harriott and his American counterpart Ornette Coleman 2 who viewed the harmonic qualities of the piano as incompatible with his own brand of free improvisation The Harriott quintet stayed together until 1965 recording three albums Free Form Abstract and Movement while also holding a long term residency at the Marquee Club in Soho Smythe stayed with Harriott after the dissolution of the quintet becoming a key member of the group Indo Jazz Fusions 2 co led by Harriott and the Indian composer and violinist John Mayer This double quintet of five Indian and five jazz musicians aimed to fuse Indian raga structures with jazz improvisation performing and recording extensively until Harriott s departure ended the project in 1969 With his knowledge of Indian ragas Smythe was considered by Mayer to be the bridge between the two camps Later career and legacy editIn a diverse career Smythe worked and recorded with many other jazz musicians when they passed through Britain including Stan Getz Paul Gonsalves Ben Webster Eddie Lockjaw Davis Zoot Sims and Bob Brookmeyer 1 He worked mainly as an accompanist in the London clubs throughout the 1970s helping bring Scottish jazz vocalist Carol Kidd to prominence After a long illness he died in 1983 in London England at the age of 60 2 The Pat Smythe Memorial Trust was established two years later as a registered charity to provide financial awards to young jazz musicians of outstanding talent 2 It was funded entirely from benefit concerts and gave awards to such musicians as Julian Arguelles Jason Rebello Nigel Hitchcock and Richard Fairhurst 3 The trust ran from 1985 to 2005 and is now defunct 1 Discography editAs leader edit UK Live with Eddie Davis amp Harold McNair 1967 Vol 1 Jazzhus Disk 2012 UK Live with Eddie Davis amp Harold McNair 1967 Vol 2 Jazzhus Disk 2012 As sideman edit With Joe Harriott Free Form Jazzland 1961 Abstract Capitol 1963 Movement Columbia 1964 High Spirits Columbia 1965 Personal Portrait Columbia 1968 Swings High Melodisc 1970 Genius Jazz Academy 2000 BBC Jazz for Moderns Gearbox 2009 Journey Moonlight Tunes 2011 Indo Jazz Suite with John Mayer Columbia 1966 Indo Jazz Fusions with John Mayer Columbia 1967 Indo Jazz Fusions II with John Mayer Columbia 1968 With others Elaine Delmar Elaine Delmar and Friends Polydor 1980 Paul Gonsalves Boom Jackie Boom Chick Vocalion 1964 Shake Keane That s the Noise Ace of Clubs 1967 The King s Singers Swing EMI 1976 Gilles Peterson Impressed 2 Universal 2004 References edit a b c d e f Pat Smythe Biography Songs amp Albums AllMusic Retrieved 11 October 2021 a b c d e f g h i Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music First ed Guinness Publishing p 2313 ISBN 0 85112 939 0 http www musicnow co uk composers fairhurst htmlFurther reading editRobertson Alan 2003 Joe Harriott Fire in his Soul Northway Books ISBN 0 9537040 3 3 Goode Coleridge amp Cotterrell Roger 2002 Bass Lines A Life in Jazz Northway Books ISBN 0 9537040 2 5 External links editPat Smythe Indo Jazz Fusions Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pat Smythe pianist amp oldid 1164287218, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
