Alan and Jimmy Skidmore

One of Britain’s great father-son relationships, the Skidmore dynasty is now entering its eighth decade!

Born in 1916, Jimmy Skidmore – one of British jazz’s most beloved ‘characters’ and universally known as ‘Skid’ to friends – began his career in 1940 and in the decade to come, amid a multitude of stars, played and recorded with Vic Lewis’ orchestra and Jazzmen, Ralph Sharon’s Sextet, trumpeter Kenny Baker and promoter Bix Curtis’ touring show ‘Jazz at the Prom’. From 1957 to 60 he joined the three-saxophone band of Humphrey Lyttelton who called him ‘ the finest tenor saxophonist in Britain today’, and thereafter continued as a high profile freelance, appearing regularly at Southend Rhythm Club – with Bix Curtis - in the mid 1960s and as a star performer on the British jazz scene for thirty five more years. His son Alan Skidmore –known again to friends as ‘Skid’s kid’! –was born in 1942; began his career in the 1960s and like his father worked with every musician of note in his generation and after, including – for a shortlist - Georgie Fame, Keith Tippett Mike Gibbs, Charlie Watts, Stan Tracey, Colin Townes and many more. Alan was also at the fulcrum of classic groups like SOS (John Surman, Mike Osborne and Alan) and toured internationally as a soloist working and recording as a soloist with the George Gruntz Concert Band and West German Radio Orchestra as well as leading his own quartet. A saxophonist who proudly carries the musical banner of John Coltrane Alan has also been a unique innovator in jazz fusion working, in more recent years, with his band Ubizo and the South African band Amampondo.

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