John Dankworth

from Desert Island Discs · host BBC Radio 4

John Dankworth studied music at the Royal Academy when jazz was not an approved subject - "I used to pretend my saxophone was a bassoon when I put it in the left luggage department of the Academy".In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he talks about his career as a jazz musician and composer, and about how he is trying to break down the musical barriers at the Stables in Wavendon and with his Summer Pops season at the Barbican.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: When That I Was and A Little Tiny Boy by Cleo Laine Book: The Exchange & Mart Luxury: Solar-powered synthesizer

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 25, 2026

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John Dankworth

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