He is a clarinettist, recorder player, saxophonist and
composer born Anthony George Coe in Canterbury, England.He studied the clarinet and taught
himself the tenor saxophone.In
the early 1950s he was a member of an Army band and his professional career
began in the 1960s when he started performing with the Humphrey Lyttleton
Band.He was approached by
Count Basie in 1965 and was offered a place in the saxophone section of his
band but problems with immigration meant this did not come to fruition.Throughout his career he has
achieved acclaim for his performance of jazz music and aside from appearing
with artists and bands he has led his own groups.Over the years he has worked with
artists and bands that include Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny
Dankworth, Matrix, Paul
McCartney
and many more.As a composer
he has written the orchestral score Zeitgeist, works to be performed
by his own ensembles, pieces for groups such as Metropole Orchestra and the
Danish Radio Big Band and the scores for movies that include Peau de
Peche, Mer de Chine and Camomile.His appearances on film scores as a performer include Victor
Victoria, Superman II, The Loss of Sexual Innocence and Leaving Las
Vegas and he is the saxophone soloist in the music for the Pink
Panther films.He has been
the recipient of the 1997 BT British Jazz Clarinet Award and was the first
non-American to be awarded the Danish Jazzpar Prize and has received an
honorary Doctorate in Music.His son is the successful radio presenter, journalist and
sportscaster Gideon Coe.
