Biography
Born on 12 December 1950 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, Whitehead studied clarinet during childhood and performed in a school folk ensemble before pursuing a law degree. He went professional on tenor saxophone in 1976, and the next year established South Of The Border, co-led with guitarist Glenn Cartledge; the group took first place in the Greater London Arts Association jazz competition. Subsequent engagements included stints with Nucleus and Graham Collier’s Band, after which he assembled Borderline in 1980 and supplied most of its repertoire. Joining Ashley Slater’s Loose Tubes in 1984, he became a central figure in the forward-looking ensemble.
During the latter half of the 1980s Whitehead appeared with Harry Beckett’s quintet and Jim Mullen’s Meantime. In 1991 he launched his own quartet—Dave Barry on drums, Peter Jacobsen on piano and Arnie Somogyi on double bass—capturing a live set titled Authentic that later appeared on Ronnie Scott’s Jazz House imprint. A subsequent Arts Council of Great Britain commission prompted him to compose and refine a suite on the island of St. Agnes in the Isles Of Scilly, resulting in the 1994 release Silence Between Waves. Its 1999 successor, Personal Standards, offered an inviting set of contemporary material that included “My Heart Will Go On,” “Dancing In The Streets” and “My Girl.”
Whitehead remains active across numerous projects, among them partnerships with classical composer Colin Riley through the HomeMade Orchestra and a recording with the Giovanni Mirabassi Quartet.
During the latter half of the 1980s Whitehead appeared with Harry Beckett’s quintet and Jim Mullen’s Meantime. In 1991 he launched his own quartet—Dave Barry on drums, Peter Jacobsen on piano and Arnie Somogyi on double bass—capturing a live set titled Authentic that later appeared on Ronnie Scott’s Jazz House imprint. A subsequent Arts Council of Great Britain commission prompted him to compose and refine a suite on the island of St. Agnes in the Isles Of Scilly, resulting in the 1994 release Silence Between Waves. Its 1999 successor, Personal Standards, offered an inviting set of contemporary material that included “My Heart Will Go On,” “Dancing In The Streets” and “My Girl.”
Whitehead remains active across numerous projects, among them partnerships with classical composer Colin Riley through the HomeMade Orchestra and a recording with the Giovanni Mirabassi Quartet.
Albums
