Gordon Beck
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Gordon James Beck (born 16 September 1936 in Brixton, London, died 6 November 2011) was a largely self-taught jazz pianist who left a career in engineering for jazz.
Gordon attended Pinner County Grammar School (the school Reg Dwight (Elton John) and Simon Le Bon would later attend). He studied piano in his youth, but decided to go into a career in technical drawing. He went back to music after spending time in Canada where he was exposed to the works of George Shearing and Dave Brubeck.
On his return to England he joined Tubby Hayes group in 1962 and later formed his own trio, made up of Tony Oxley, Jeff Clyne, and himself. From 1969 to 1972 he toured with Phil Woods's European Rhythm Machine. He was a member of Nucleus during 1972-74 and after that formed the group Gyroscope.
He also recorded albums with Allan Holdsworth, Henri Texier, Didier Lockwood and others.
