Jazz musician, composer, and arranger, born in London, England, UK. He trained at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and has been a leading figure in the British popular music and jazz scene since the 1950s. An accomplished saxophonist, and bandleader since 1953, he has also composed works for combined jazz and symphonic ensembles, such as The Diamond and the Goose (1981) for choir and orchestra, and film scores including Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960). With his wife, the singer Cleo Laine (1927-- ), he has recorded many acclaimed musical albums.