Dave Shepherd

Following the end of World War II, Dave Shepherd began studying the clarinet and soon emerged as one of the most esteemed figures among U.K. musicians. His range extended from Dixieland across the breadth of mainstream jazz to the edges of bop, resulting in collaborations with both British and American players that included everyone from Freddy Randall to Billie Holiday. Even after a brief stay in the U.S. during the mid-'50s and engagements at festivals overseas, his work remained centered in Britain, where he performed regularly with the Pizza Express All Stars, Digby Fairweather, Roy Williams, Len Skeat, and others. Though an accomplished professional whose skill at reproducing Benny Goodman's immaculate styling drew disproportionate critical notice, Shepherd revealed, when given full scope for his gifts, an unwavering sense of swing together with a musical elegance often missing from more widely recognized performers.