Bob Cornford

Robert Leslie "Bob" Cornford (15 May 1940 – 18 July 1983) was a British jazz pianist and composer.

He was born in Brazil to British nationals. He received classical training in music, including studies at the Royal College of Music.[1][2] He joined the ensemble of John Dankworth in the 1960s while working as an arranger and orchestrator on for the BBC,[2] and he composed for the NDR Radiophilharmonie and the DR Big Band.[1] The NDR perform Cornford's Coalescence and In Memoriam.[1]

Beginning in 1977 he was a member of the band Axel with Tony Coe and in 1983 performed with Lee Konitz.[1] He also worked with Phil Lee, Alan Skidmore, Bobby Wellins, Kenny Wheeler,[1] Chris Laurence, Humphrey Lyttelton, Palle Mikkelborg, Mark Murphy, Pat Smythe, Trevor Tomkins, and Norma Winstone and accompanied vocalists such as Scott Walker and Gitte Haenning. Cornford died of a heart attack in 1983.