A blue plaque for Kenny Wheeler

The London Borough of Waltham Forest has celebrated the immense contribution of the late Kenny Wheeler to the British jazz scene with by unveiling a blue plaque in his name. This was also due to the good work of musician Digby Fairweather, founder of The National Jazz Archive.

Having moved here from his native Canada in 1952 Kenny spent many of his 60 years in the borough, specifically in Leytonstone where the plaque is erected. He passed away in September aged 84. The plaque was already planned by the borough in recognition as part of their scheme of local historic celebration.

As well as master trumpeter and flugelhorn player Kenny was renowned for his vivid composition and arrangement. He was held in high esteem and arguably reached the peak of hi powers in 1990 with a double CD recording for ECM records called ‘Music For Large And Small Ensembles’. During his career he worked with many great musicians from both sides of the Atlantic and helped found The Royal Academy Of Music’s Junior Jazz Programme.