Chris Dagley 1972-2010
July 28, 2010 by Fiona
NYJO was extremely saddened to hear that ex-NYJO drummer Chris Dagley was killed in the small hours of Wednesday 28th July, when his motorcycle crashed on the A40 dual carriageway near White City. Chris was returning home from his regular gig with the James Pearson Trio, the Ronnie Scott house band.
The shocking death of 38-year old Chris, who was one of the busiest musicians in London, has robbed British jazz of one of its most respected and best-liked performers. Bright, friendly and conscientious, he was a crisp, hard-swinging drummer who took great pride in his work.
A drum prodigy since the age of 12, Chris was a long-serving member of NYJO. Coming from Solihull, he was only able to make regular attendances at the Saturday rehearsals by staying in Music Director Bill Ashton’s family home over the weekends. “He was one of the best drummers we’ve ever had,” Bill said, when Chris turned freelance.
Chris quickly established himself as an unusually gifted and versatile soloist, clinician, arranger, section player and sight-reader, working not only with jazz stars (Benny Golson, Randy Brecker, Jim Mullen, Don Weller) but also the BBC Big Band and big pop names including Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Lionel Ritchie, Gary Barlow, Westlife and The Osmonds.
He lived in Ruislip, Middlesex and leaves a widow, Jan, and three young children. He will be sadly missed by his many close friends at NYJO and we send our sincere condolences to all Chris’s family, friends and colleagues.
A more in-depth article about Chris and his association with NYJO will appear here in due course.
A tribute in song by Marti Pellow can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbun1WU7OqY
What dreadful news about Chris Dagley. The most exciting NYJO drummer, lovely guy, family man and such an inspiration to so many.
Deepest condolences from Graham, Mandy, Hattie, Charley, Rod, Brad Webb
A very sad day that we loose such a great human being and musician such as Chris.
I knew Chris during his NYJO years and as fellow students of Bob Armstrong we would compare experiences of our lessons with excitement.
In later years we would bump into each other at drum clinics or at Ronnies and it would spark memories of that happy time.
A great musician with boundless enthusiasm and energy, he will be sorely missed.
My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
I was the bass player for NYJO 2 1987-1991. At that time Chris was the drummer for NYJO 1(with Phil Mulford on bass). Together they set a formidable standard of playing which was an inspiration to me. I did a couple of gigs with NYJO 1 when I was new to the band(and a little out of my depth). Chris played flawlessly as ever and was very kind and professional. We have lost an amazing musician and a great person.