Spike Wells
Encyclopedia
Michael 'Spike' Wells is an English jazz
drummer and priest
.
He was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral
Choir School, then became interested in jazz after coming across a recording by Dizzy Gillespie
, which he found 'very exciting'.
He took up drums in his early teens: 'I suppose the thing that really knocked me out about jazz was the rhythm, so I thought if I'm going to be in a jazz band I want to be the drummer.' He later had lessons from former Miles Davis
drummer Philly Joe Jones
, who lived in London
in 1967–9, and he was also very influenced by another of Davis's drummers, Tony Williams.
He read Greats at Oxford, where he put together a quartet with tenor player Pat Crumly and pianist Brian Priestley
which played with visitors including saxophonists Bobby Wellins
, Tony Coe
and Joe Harriott
, and blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon
.
In 1968 he began a PhD
course in philosophy
at London University, living in a house which was also home to bass player Ron Mathewson
, alto sax player Ray Warleigh
, trombonist Chris Pyne
and pianist Mick Pyne. Mathewson was then playing in the quartet of tenor player Tubby Hayes
, and asked Wells if he'd being interested in joining the group. He arranged an audition with Hayes and guitarist Louis Stewart
, at which 'We played a blues, and Tubby looked at Ron and Louis and then said, "Do you want the job?” Want the job. With the greatest jazz quartet in England?' He abandoned his PhD and became a professional musician.
The pianist Gordon Beck
has stated that in his opinion 'The union of Ron Mathewson and Spike Wells in Tubby's quartet with Stewart is the single greatest rhythm section in all of British jazz.'
In 2004 Wells reflected on his hiring by Hayes:
As well as playing with Hayes, in both his quartet and his big band, until the saxophonist's death in 1973, he spent a year in Humphrey Lyttelton
's band, and also worked with many visiting soloists at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
, including Stan Getz
(with whom he also toured Scandinavia
), Roland Kirk, Art Farmer
, Johnny Griffin
and James Moody
.
After five years' study he also qualified as a solicitor
, and then practised law for 22 years, eventually working as in-house legal adviser for Lloyds Bank
. He had drifted away from his faith in his teens, but in his early forties he had a 'reconversion experience' and then developed a strong sense of vocation which led him to become a deacon
in the Church of England
when he was 49 and a year later to take early retirement from the bank and become a stipend
iary curate
at St Peter's church, Brighton
. As his music-making was still important to him, he later went into non-stipendiary ministry, and now works as both a priest and a musician.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
drummer and priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.
He was a chorister at Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
Choir School, then became interested in jazz after coming across a recording by Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
, which he found 'very exciting'.
He took up drums in his early teens: 'I suppose the thing that really knocked me out about jazz was the rhythm, so I thought if I'm going to be in a jazz band I want to be the drummer.' He later had lessons from former Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
drummer Philly Joe Jones
Philly Joe Jones
Joseph Rudolph Jones was a Philadelphia-born United States jazz drummer, known as the drummer for the Miles Davis Quintet.Philly Joe Jones was often confused with another influential jazz drummer, Jo Jones...
, who lived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1967–9, and he was also very influenced by another of Davis's drummers, Tony Williams.
He read Greats at Oxford, where he put together a quartet with tenor player Pat Crumly and pianist Brian Priestley
Brian Priestley
Brian Priestley is an English jazz writer, pianist and arranger.Priestley began studying music at age 8, and in the 1960s began arranging jazz pieces for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra and gained a degree in modern languages from Leeds University...
which played with visitors including saxophonists Bobby Wellins
Bobby Wellins
Robert Coull "Bobby" Wellins is a Scottish tenor saxophonist best known for his collaboration with Stan Tracey on the seminal 1965 British jazz album Under Milk Wood....
, Tony Coe
Tony Coe
Anthony George Coe is a composer and jazz musician who plays clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone.Coe began his performing career playing with Humphrey Lyttelton's band from 1957 to 1962...
and Joe Harriott
Joe Harriott
Joseph Arthurlin 'Joe' Harriott was a Jamaican jazz musician and composer, whose principal instrument was the alto saxophone....
, and blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon
Jimmy Witherspoon was an American jump blues singer.-Early life and career:James Witherspoon was born in Gurdon, Arkansas. He first attracted attention singing with Teddy Weatherford's band in Calcutta, India, which made regular radio broadcasts over the U. S. Armed Forces Radio Service during...
.
In 1968 he began a PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
course in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at London University, living in a house which was also home to bass player Ron Mathewson
Ron Mathewson
Ron Mathewson is a Scottish jazz double bassist and bass guitarist born in Lerwick, Shetland Isles, Scotland. Mathewson is best known for his years spent working with Ronnie Scott, but has also done recordings with Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Ben Webster, Philly Joe Jones, Roy Eldridge, Oscar...
, alto sax player Ray Warleigh
Ray Warleigh
Raymond 'Ray' Kenneth Warleigh , is a leading UK-based alto saxophonist and flautist...
, trombonist Chris Pyne
Chris Pyne
Norman Christopher "Chris" Pyne was an English jazz trombonist.Pyne was the brother of Mick Pyne, and played piano as a child before switching to trombone...
and pianist Mick Pyne. Mathewson was then playing in the quartet of tenor player Tubby Hayes
Tubby Hayes
Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest British jazz instrumentalists.- Early life :Hayes was born...
, and asked Wells if he'd being interested in joining the group. He arranged an audition with Hayes and guitarist Louis Stewart
Louis Stewart (guitarist)
Louis Stewart is an Irish jazz guitarist, and the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin. He began his international career in 1968, when he was awarded the special jury prize at The Montreux International Jazz Festival...
, at which 'We played a blues, and Tubby looked at Ron and Louis and then said, "Do you want the job?” Want the job. With the greatest jazz quartet in England?' He abandoned his PhD and became a professional musician.
The pianist Gordon Beck
Gordon Beck
Gordon James Beck was an English jazz pianist.Beck was born in Brixton, London, and attended Pinner County Grammar School . He studied piano in his youth, but decided to go into a career as an engineering technical draughtsman...
has stated that in his opinion 'The union of Ron Mathewson and Spike Wells in Tubby's quartet with Stewart is the single greatest rhythm section in all of British jazz.'
In 2004 Wells reflected on his hiring by Hayes:
It was an intuitive thing, a bit like people say about Miles Davis. He hired you because he heard something about your playing that he wanted, and as long as you provided it, he let you do what you wanted … There were new freedoms opened up in the concept of how to play together rather than just accompanying. We were all spinning ideas off each other in a rather more democratic way and that was what Tubby liked to get into at that point. I think he was intent of freeing up the overall concept. And he found that inspired his own playing.
As well as playing with Hayes, in both his quartet and his big band, until the saxophonist's death in 1973, he spent a year in Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
's band, and also worked with many visiting soloists at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
, including Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
(with whom he also toured Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
), Roland Kirk, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
and James Moody
James Moody (saxophonist)
James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit "Moody's Mood for Love," an improvisation based on "I'm in the Mood for Love"; in performance, he often improvised vocals for the tune.-Biography:James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia...
.
After five years' study he also qualified as a solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, and then practised law for 22 years, eventually working as in-house legal adviser for Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
. He had drifted away from his faith in his teens, but in his early forties he had a 'reconversion experience' and then developed a strong sense of vocation which led him to become a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
when he was 49 and a year later to take early retirement from the bank and become a stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
iary curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at St Peter's church, Brighton
St Peter's Church, Brighton
St Peter's Church is a Church of England parish church in Brighton in the English city of Brighton and Hove. It is near the centre of the town, on an island between two major roads, the A23 London Road and A270 Lewes Road. Built from 1824-28 to a design by Sir Charles Barry, it is arguably the...
. As his music-making was still important to him, he later went into non-stipendiary ministry, and now works as both a priest and a musician.
Selected discography
- Alan BarnesAlan Barnes (musician)Alan Barnes is an English Jazz musician.- Career :Alan Barnes attended Leeds College of Music between 1977–80 where he studied saxophone, woodwinds and arranging before moving to London. In 1980 he played with the Midnight Follies Orchestra and the following year was with the Pasadena Roof...
, Blessing in Disguise (2005) - Ian Hamer, Acropolis (1966–74)
- Tubby Hayes Quartet, Live 1969 (1969)
- Tubby Hayes Big Band, England's Late Jazz Great (1969)
- John HorlerJohn HorlerJohn Douglas Horler is an English jazz pianist. He is the brother of fellow jazz musician David Horler and the uncle of Natalie Horler, who is the lead singer in the successful eurodance band Cascada....
, Gentle Piece (1993) - John Horler, Not a Cloud in the Sky (2010)
- Peter KingPeter King (saxophonist)Peter John King is an English jazz saxophonist, composer, and clarinettist.- Early life :Peter King was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, on August 11, 1940. He took up the clarinet and saxophone as a teenager, entirely self taught...
, East 34th Street (1983) - Mike Pyne, Live at Ronnie Scott's (1990)
- Don WellerDon Weller (musician)Don Weller , is a British jazz musician, tenor saxophonist and composer.-Career:...
and Bobby WellinsBobby WellinsRobert Coull "Bobby" Wellins is a Scottish tenor saxophonist best known for his collaboration with Stan Tracey on the seminal 1965 British jazz album Under Milk Wood....
, Nine Songs (2007) - Bobby Wellins, Making Light Work (1983)
- Bobby Wellins, Birds of Brazil (1989)
- Bobby Wellins, Nomad (1992)
- Bobby Wellins, Fun (2004)
- Bobby Wellins, When the Sun Comes Out (2005)
- Spike Wells, Gwilym SimcockGwilym SimcockGwilym Simcock is a British pianist and composer working in both jazz and classical music, and often blurring the boundaries of the two....
, Malcolm Creese, Reverence (2006)