Harold Winston Beckett (30 May 1935According to his wife, Beckett was 86 (sic) when he died, but always "knocked the years off ... because he thought if they knew his age nobody would want to hire him because he was too old." See the obituary in The Independent, 24 August 2010, where his date of birth is given as 30 May 1923. – 22 July 2010) was a British trumpeter and flugelhorn player of Barbadian origin.
Biography Born in Bridgetown, Saint Michael, Barbados, Harry Beckett learned to play music in a Salvation Army band.Voce, Steve (24 August 2010), "Harry Beckett: Highly respected trumpeter who worked with Mingus, Scott, Dankworth and Tracey", The Independent. A resident in the UK from 1954, he had an international reputation. He played with Charles Mingus in the 1962 film All Night Long."All Night Long (1962)", Library of Congress. In the 1960s, he worked and recorded within the band of bass player and composer Graham Collier, retaining the connection over a 16-year period.Phillips, Matt (10 July 2015), "Harry Beckett 1935–2010", Sounds of Surprise. Beginning in 1970, Beckett led groups of his own, recording for Philips, RCA and Ogun Records among other labels.
Beckett was a key figure of important groups in the British free jazz/improvised music scene, including Ian Carr's Nucleus, the Brotherhood of Breath and The Dedication Orchestra, London Jazz Composers Orchestra, London Improvisers Orchestra, John Surman's Octet, Django Bates, Ronnie Scott's Quintet, Kathy Stobart, Charlie Watts, Stan Tracey's Big Band and Octet; Elton Dean's Ninesense. He also recorded with Keef Hartley, Jah Wobble, David Sylvian and worked with David Murray. He toured abroad with Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Keith Tippett, John Tchicai, Joachim Kühn, Dudu Pukwana's Zila, George Gruntz's Bands, Belgian quintet The Wrong Object, Pierre Dørge's New Jungle Band and Annie Whitehead's Robert Wyatt project, Soupsongs, which also featured Phil Manzanera and Julie Tippetts, among other jazz and rock luminaries.
Beckett's dub-oriented album, The Modern Sound of Harry Beckett, was produced by famed British producer Adrian Sherwood and released on On-U Sound in late 2008.
In 1972, Beckett won the Melody Maker jazz Poll as "Top Trumpeter in Britain". He was a member of the Orchestre National de Jazz between 1997 and 2000.
Beckett died on 22 July 2010 after suffering a stroke.
Discography Artist/group Title Label Recording date Location Release dateCharles MingusSession following filming All Night LongPrivate Acetate01/01/61London1962West African Rhythm BrothersVarious singlesMelodisc01/01/63?1963Nigerian Union Rhythm Group?Melodisc01/01/66?1966Ambrose CampbellHigh Life TodayColumbia Lansdowne01/01/66?1966The Graham Collier SeptetDeep Dark Blue CentreDeram24/01/67Jackson Studios, Rickmansworth,