Keith Ingham

Born in London, England February 5, 1938, he started playing piano at the age of ten, but did not treat the enterprise seriously until ten years later. He was an Oxford graduate in languages, played in Oxford with fellow students, but also journeyed to London to gig with Dick Williams' band. His army service included a posting to Hong Kong. He was in Alan Littlejohns' band from 1960, worked with Littlejohns and Dick Williams throughout the 1960's, and also gigged with Wally Fawkes, Bruce Turner, Humphrey Lyttelton and Sandy Brown. After a professional night club residency in 1964, he chose to play semi-professionally while working for an airline company in London. He was featured with visiting American musicians at London's Jazz Expo in 1969, and accompanied various American musicians during the 1970's, including Red Allen, Pee Wee Russell, Benny Carter, Bud Freeman, Bill Coleman, Bobby Hackett, Charlie Shavers, Peanuts Hucko, Ben Webster. He formed a duo with Susannah McCorkle in 1973 and worked with her in London and New York. After some work with Ron Russell's band, including a tour to Prague in 1974, he worked with Lennie Hastings, Dick Sudhalter and George Melly, he moved to New York in November 1977, and began a long hotel residency, and some work with Benny Goodman. Toured Europe with the World's Greatest Jazz Band, and Ed Polcer's Band. Back in New York he worked with Susannah McCorkle again and also Maxine Sullivan and Peggy Lee. and recorded with his own bands and formed his own New York Nine in 1996.

He names among his favourites: Earl 'Fatha' Hines, Teddy Wilson, Tommy Flanagan, Al Haig, Duke Ellington.

Ingham is a mature pianist who is comfortable within a wide range of styles.

Recommended recordings (apart from those listed above):

"A Star Dust Melody"

Sackville SKCD2-2051

"A Mellow Bit of Rhythm"

Sackville SKCD2-3063

"We're in the Money"

Sackville SKCD2-2055

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