Biography
Alan Richard James Skidmore entered the world on 21 April 1942 in Kingston-on-Thames, London, England. Known as Skid, he performs on soprano and tenor saxophones along with flutes and drums. His father, Jimmy Skidmore, once handed him an unwanted tenor saxophone that the younger Skidmore left untouched until roughly age fifteen, at which point he resolved to master the instrument on his own. Among the players he most esteems are Sonny Rollins, Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Scott, Andy Sheppard, and, foremost, John Coltrane. Skidmore turned professional in 1958, taking on assorted commercial work that encompassed tours alongside comedian Tony Hancock and singer Matt Monro as well as a five-year stint in the house band at London’s Talk Of The Town nightclub.
His initial appearance on BBC Radio’s Jazz Club came in 1961, the same year he encountered his hero Coltrane in person. Over the ensuing period he lent his skills to an array of notable ensembles, among them Eric Delaney—where he stepped in for his father after Jimmy’s departure in 1963—Alexis Korner in 1964, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers also in 1964, Ronnie Scott in 1965, Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames in 1970, Mike Westbrook from 1970 to 1971, Mike Gibbs during those same years, and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood Of Breath in 1971. In 1969 he assembled his own quintet featuring Kenny Wheeler, Tony Oxley, John Taylor and Harry Miller; the group captured both best soloist and best band honors at the Montreux International Jazz Festival and earned him a scholarship to Berklee College Of Music, which he ultimately declined.
Three years later, in 1973, he helped establish S.O.S., widely regarded as the first ensemble composed entirely of saxophones, alongside Mike Osborne and John Surman. Subsequent projects under his own leadership have included El Skid, which he co-directed with Elton Dean, SOH, and Tenor Tonic. Additional collaborations have taken him into the George Gruntz Concert Band, the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, the Charlie Watts Orchestra, and associations with Stan Tracey, Mose Allison, Van Morrison, and Georgie Fame once more, while he served as featured soloist with the West German Radio Band from 1981 through 1984. In April 1991 he rejoined Surman for a duo performance at a benefit concert for Osborne. By 2002 he was again delivering powerful saxophone work with Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames. He stands unquestionably among the finest jazz saxophonists Britain has produced.
His initial appearance on BBC Radio’s Jazz Club came in 1961, the same year he encountered his hero Coltrane in person. Over the ensuing period he lent his skills to an array of notable ensembles, among them Eric Delaney—where he stepped in for his father after Jimmy’s departure in 1963—Alexis Korner in 1964, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers also in 1964, Ronnie Scott in 1965, Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames in 1970, Mike Westbrook from 1970 to 1971, Mike Gibbs during those same years, and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood Of Breath in 1971. In 1969 he assembled his own quintet featuring Kenny Wheeler, Tony Oxley, John Taylor and Harry Miller; the group captured both best soloist and best band honors at the Montreux International Jazz Festival and earned him a scholarship to Berklee College Of Music, which he ultimately declined.
Three years later, in 1973, he helped establish S.O.S., widely regarded as the first ensemble composed entirely of saxophones, alongside Mike Osborne and John Surman. Subsequent projects under his own leadership have included El Skid, which he co-directed with Elton Dean, SOH, and Tenor Tonic. Additional collaborations have taken him into the George Gruntz Concert Band, the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine, the Charlie Watts Orchestra, and associations with Stan Tracey, Mose Allison, Van Morrison, and Georgie Fame once more, while he served as featured soloist with the West German Radio Band from 1981 through 1984. In April 1991 he rejoined Surman for a duo performance at a benefit concert for Osborne. By 2002 he was again delivering powerful saxophone work with Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames. He stands unquestionably among the finest jazz saxophonists Britain has produced.
Albums
Live
