Pete Jacobsen

Pete Jacobsen (16 May 1950 – 29 April 2002) was a blind English jazz pianist. He variously worked with Tim Whitehead, Carmina, Barbara Thompson, Bobby Wellins, Don Weller, Dick Morrissey, Jim Mullen and Chris Biscoe.

Life and career
Born Peter Paul George Jacobsen in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, Jacobsen made his name accompanying Scottish tenor saxophonist Bobby Wellins, appearing on recordings such as Jubilation (1978), Dreams Are Free (1979), and Birds of Brazil (1989).

Having lost his sight as a baby, he studied at Worcester School for the Blind before moving to London in 1969 to study at the Royal Academy of Music.

His first professional gigs were with saxophonist Barbara Thompson and Isotope's Gary Boyle, before joining the jazz-fusion band Morrissey–Mullen and also playing in percussionist Chris Fletcher's band.

Other notable saxophonists he worked with include Don Weller, Chris Biscoe, Alan Skidmore, Peter King and Tim Whitehead, as well as accompanying visiting artists such as bassist Eberhard Weber and American trombonist Jimmy Knepper.

He also gave memorable solo recitals at Sherborne Jazz Festival and at Brighton Jazz Club, where he was a regular performer.

He also toured and recorded with the Celtic-jazz band, Carmina.

Jacobsen died in London, England in April 2002, aged 51.

Discography

 * Jubilation (Bobby Wellins Quartet) (1978)
 * Dreams Are Free (Bobby Wellins Quartet) (1979)
 * Hi-Fly (Peter King with the Philippe Briand Trio) (1984)
 * This Must Be the Place (Morrissey–Mullen) (1985)
 * Modern Alarms (Chris Biscoe Quartet/Quintet/Sextet)
 * Chris Biscoe Sextet (1986)
 * Happy Hour (Morrissey–Mullen) (1988)
 * Eleven Years From Yesterday (Phil Wachsmann/Peter Jacobsen/Ian Brighton/Marcio Mattos/Trevor Taylor) (1988)
 * Birds of Brazil (Bobby Wellins Quintet with the Delme String Quartet) (1989)
 * Authentic (Tim Whitehead Quartet) (1991)
 * Silence Between Waves (Tim Whitehead Quartet) (1994)
 * Ever Onward (solo) (1994)
 * On Your Marks (Pete Jacobsen/Simon Woolf/Nic France Trio live at the Peterborough Jazz Club) (2002)
 * See You Later, Forever – Phil Burdett (2003) (featured on organ and piano)