Patty Smyth
b. 2. May 1923, Edinburgh, Scotland, d. 6. May 1983, London, England. Smythe practiced as a lawyer in Edinburgh before moving to London in the late '50s. He played with trumpeter Dizzy Reecebefore joining Joe Harriott's Quintet (1960-64). Harriott was developing the beginnings of a European free jazz quite unlike Ornette Coleman's American form. Smythe was able to help both as pianist in the band and with suggestions to organize the new ideas. He stayed on with Harriott in the Indo Jazz Fusions which again organized improvization along new lines. Throughout the '70s he worked in a variety of contexts with Kenny Wheeler. He was a skilled accompanist especially of singers like Anita O'Day, Blossom Dearie, Tony Bennett, Annie Ross, Elaine Delmar and Mark Murphy. So respected a musician was he that after his death the Pat Smythe Memorial Trust and Award was established in his memory.