Alec Dankworth
Alexander William Tamba Dankworth (born 14 May 1960) is an English jazz bassist and composer.
Also recorded as Alexander William Tamba Dankworth
Alec Dankworth

Richard Kaby · Alec Dankworth · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Alec Dankworth
- Birth Name
- Alexander William Tamba Dankworth
- Born
- 14 May 1960
- Birthplace
- Marylebone, London, England
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Occupation
- composer · musician
- Fields
- jazz · jazz fusion
- Education
- Bedford School · Guildhall School of Music and Drama
- Languages
- English
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Alexander William Tamba Dankworth (born 14 May 1960) is an English jazz bassist and composer.
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Note VALÉORINE
Alec Dankworth (born 1960) is a composer and musician, of British nationality. The composer was born in Marylebone. Alec Dankworth was educated at Bedford School and Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
The work spans jazz and jazz fusion. Languages used include English.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 01 October 2026
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wikidata · Q448220 · wikipedia · Alec Dankworth
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Alec Dankworth • Birth Name — Alexander William Tamba Dankworth • Born — 14 May 1960 • Birthplace — Marylebone, London, England • Instrument — Double bass • Years Active — 1980s–present • Website — alecdankworth.com
Early life and education
Early life and education
Born in London, the son of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine, Alec Dankworth grew up in the villages of Aspley Guise and Wavendon, living at the Old Rectory, Wavendon, where his parents established the Wavendon All-Music Plan (WAP) that includes the Stables Theatre. After attending Bedford School, he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, U.S. in 1978, before joining his parents' quintet.
Biography
Biography
Between 1980 and 1983 he toured the United States, Australia, and Europe with them, going on to work with Tommy Chase, the BBC Big Band, and Clark Tracey, with whom he recorded two albums. Dankworth recorded an arrangement of Duke Ellington's Black, Brown, and Beige with violinist Nigel Kennedy in 1986, with whom he also performed Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons. He also played in the 1980s with Dick Morrissey, Spike Robinson, Jean Toussaint, Michael Garrick, Tommy Smith, Julian Joseph, and Andy Hamilton, as well as leading his own quartet. In 1990 he was invited to join and tour with Dave Brubeck's band, and in 1993 he worked with Abdullah Ibrahim, touring Europe and South Africa. He has played with Mose Allison, Clark Terry, Mel Tormé, Anita O'Day, Peter King, Alan Barnes, David-Jean Baptiste, Van Morrison and Martin Taylor, among others. He also co-led a 14-piece band with his father, John Dankworth: the Alec and John Dankworth Generation Band (or "Generation Band"), with which he has recorded two albums. In 2013 Dankworth toured with the Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion, a quartet comprising Dankworth on bass, drummer Ginger Baker, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and percussionist Abass Dodoo. Dankworth is also a tutor for the National Youth Jazz Collective.
As co-leader
As co-leader
With John Dankworth • Nebuchadnezzar (Ronnie Scott's Jazz House, 1994) • Rhythm Changes (Ronnie Scott's Jazz House, 1996)
As sideman
As sideman
With Dave Brubeck • The 40th Anniversary Tour of the U.K. (Telarc, 1999) • Dave Brubeck: Live with the LSO (Telarc, 2000) • The Crossing (Telarc, 2001) • Double Live from the U.S.A. and U.K. (Telarc, 2001)
Identity
Identity
Alec Dankworth is recorded with the occupation jazz musician. Recorded as a citizen of United Kingdom. Classed in the genre jazz fusion.

The Jean Toussaint Allstar Sextet performs Brother Raymond at INNtöne Jazzfestival 2019. L.t.R.: Jean Toussaint, Alec Dankworth, Byron Wallen, Dennis Rollins.
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Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1960
Alec Dankworth was born on 14 May 1960.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Alec Dankworth”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q448220: Alec Dankworth
General reference · Wikidata
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Identity and origins. The authorities additionally record the heading Alexander William Tamba Dankworth. His recorded language was English. He was the child of John Dankworth and Cleo Laine.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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