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British saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist born in St. Pancras (London) on January 30, 1935, Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes began by playing the violin, before taking up the piano and, at the age of eleven, discovering the tenor saxophone, which became his instrument of choice. Influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, he cut his teeth in Kenny Baker's sextet, then in several orchestras, before forming an octet, a big band and, in 1956, a quintet under his own name, which recorded the album After Lights Out (1956), accompanied by Harry South (piano), Dickie Hawdon (trumpet), Pete Elderfield (double bass) and Bill Heyden (drums). After forming The Jazz Couriers with Ronnie Scott in 1957, Hayes signed with Fontana and formed a new quintet with Gordon Beck (piano), Jimmy Deuchar (trumpet), Freddy Logan (double bass) and Allan Ganley. This formation gave rise to the album Down in the Village (1962) and the live recording Late Spot at Scott's (1963). He performed in the U.S. and throughout Europe, notably at festivals. This tour resulted in the album Antibes '62, released in 2025. The Tubby Hayes Quintet also left a recording of their last performances in February 1964 at Ronnie Scott's club, before going their separate ways. Despite heavy drug and alcohol addiction, the saxophonist continued his career with other groups until his illness in 1970. He underwent heart surgery in July 1971, making a brief comeback before a second fatal operation, and died on June 8, 1973 at the age of 38.
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