Ashley Kozak
Encyclopedia
Ashley Kozak is a jazz bassist, record producer and artists' manager, best known as having been Donovan
's manager.
After working, and recording, with Tony Crombie
and His Orchestra in 1954, together with leading UK-based jazz musicians such as Crombie, Dizzy Reece
, Joe Temperley
and Harry South
, Kozak went on to join the Vic Ash
Quartet which recorded with
Maxine Sullivan
. He later joined the Don Rendell
Sextet (1954–55) and The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (1955–56), together with Stan Tracey
. He would return to record with Tony Crombie in the late 50s.
By 1962 he was leading his own quartet, which included Harry South and Dick Morrissey
, and which spent 9 months in India.
Shortly after their return, Kozak started working as an executive at Brian Epstein
's NEMS Enterprises as well as managing artists such as Shawn Phillips
(1965–67), Donovan
(1965 to May 1968), and the duo Michael-Claire (1968).
He produced Marc Brierley's debut album Hello (1969), the band Clear Blue Sky (1970–71), and put together the band Tranquility, a “hybrid of pop, rock and English folk music” 1971 - 1974.
Ashley Kozak died in 2008.
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
's manager.
After working, and recording, with Tony Crombie
Tony Crombie
Anthony John "Tony" Crombie was an English jazz drummer, pianist, bandleader and composer. He was regarded as one of the finest jazz drummers and bandleaders, and occasional but very capable pianist and vibraphonist, to emerge in Britain, and as an energising influence on the British jazz scene...
and His Orchestra in 1954, together with leading UK-based jazz musicians such as Crombie, Dizzy Reece
Dizzy Reece
Alphonso Son "Dizzy" Reece is a hard bop jazz trumpeter with a distinctive sound and compositional style.Reece was born 5 January 1931 in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of a silent film pianist. He attended the Alpha Boys School , switching from baritone to trumpet at 14...
, Joe Temperley
Joe Temperley
Joe Temperley is a Scottish saxophonist. He has performed on various instruments but is most associated with the baritone saxophone and bass clarinet....
and Harry South
Harry South
Harry South was an English jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, who later moved into work for film and television....
, Kozak went on to join the Vic Ash
Vic Ash
Victor "Vic" Ash , is an English jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.Ash began playing professionally in 1951 when, together with Tubby Hayes, he joined the band of Kenny Baker, with whom he played until 1953...
Quartet which recorded with
Maxine Sullivan
Maxine Sullivan
Maxine Sullivan , born Marietta Williams, was an American blues and jazz singer.She was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, and married jazz musician John Kirby in 1938 , and stride pianist Cliff Jackson in 1956...
. He later joined the Don Rendell
Don Rendell
Donald Percy 'Don' Rendell is an English jazz musician and arranger, specialising on tenor saxophone, but also playing soprano saxophone, flute, and clarinet....
Sextet (1954–55) and The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (1955–56), together with Stan Tracey
Stan Tracey
Stanley William Tracey CBE is a British jazz pianist and composer, most influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk.-Early career:...
. He would return to record with Tony Crombie in the late 50s.
By 1962 he was leading his own quartet, which included Harry South and Dick Morrissey
Dick Morrissey
Richard Edwin "Dick" Morrissey was a British jazz musician and composer. He played the tenor sax, soprano sax and flute.- Background :...
, and which spent 9 months in India.
Shortly after their return, Kozak started working as an executive at Brian Epstein
Brian Epstein
Brian Samuel Epstein , was an English music entrepreneur, and is best known for being the manager of The Beatles up until his death. He also managed several other musical artists such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, Cilla Black, The Remo Four & The Cyrkle...
's NEMS Enterprises as well as managing artists such as Shawn Phillips
Shawn Phillips
Shawn Phillips is a folk-rock musician, primarily influential in the 1960s and 1970s.Phillips has recorded twenty albums and worked with musicians including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J. Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Bernie Taupin, and many others...
(1965–67), Donovan
Donovan
Donovan Donovan Donovan (born Donovan Philips Leitch (born 10 May 1946) is a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Emerging from the British folk scene, he developed an eclectic and distinctive style that blended folk, jazz, pop, psychedelia, and world music...
(1965 to May 1968), and the duo Michael-Claire (1968).
He produced Marc Brierley's debut album Hello (1969), the band Clear Blue Sky (1970–71), and put together the band Tranquility, a “hybrid of pop, rock and English folk music” 1971 - 1974.
Ashley Kozak died in 2008.
Discography
- Maxine Sullivan, voc; acc. by Vic Ash Quartet: Vic Ash, cl; Ralph Dollimore, p; Ashley Kozak, b; Ralph Green, d - London, February (1954)
- Rockin' with The Rockets - Tony Crombie and His Rockets (Red Morris, Jimmy Currie, Ashley Kozak, Red Mitchell, Clyde Ray) - Columbia 33S 1108 (1957)