Don Weller (musician)

This article is about the British jazz musician Don Weller; for the American illustrator and painter, see Don Weller.

Don Weller (born 1941), is a British jazz musician, tenor saxophonist and composer.

Career

Don Weller began playing clarinet in Dixieland bands and later changed to tenor saxophone. In the 1970s his group 'Major Surgery' exclusively played his own compositions. This was followed by a quartet with drummer Bryan Spring. At the same time he worked regularly with pianist Stan Tracey. Renowned for his versatility, he has played with artists such as Alan Price, Tina May and Charlie Hearnshaw.

In the 1980s, together with his friend and fellow tenor sax Dick Morrissey, Weller was a regular member of Rocket 88, the boogie-woogie fun band set up by Ian "Stu" Stewart and Bob Hall, appearing on the band's only album. He also played with the Gil Evans Orchestra, standing in for Michael Brecker at the Bracknell Jazz Festival.

He has been involved with the films Absolute Beginners and Stormy Monday both as performer and composer. He won the 'Top Tenor' award in 1994, 1996 and 1998. He formed his big band to perform his 'Pennine Suite' at the 1996 Appleby Jazz Festival, and since then the band has regularly appeared at other jazz festivals. A recent project is his 'Electric Jazz Octet'.

Selected Discography

• 1980: Commit No Nuisance - (with Bryan Spring)
• 1987: A Little Blue (Miles Music) - (with the Mick Pyne Quartet)
• 1996: The Don Weller Big Band (33 Records)
• 2001: Cannonball (ASC) - (Alan Barnes with the Don Weller Band)
• 2003: The Way You’re Going To Look Tomorrow Morning (Trio)
• 2007: Precious Time (Trio) - (with drummer Dave Barry)
• 2007: Nine Songs (Trio) - (with Bobby Wellins)

External Links

• Don Weller Site
• Jazz UK Article