John Sangster

b. 17 November 1928, Melbourne, Australia, d. 26 October 1995, Brisbane, Australia. Sangster started off playing the trombone but switched to trumpet when he appeared in trad bands in 1948. In 1950, he learned enough about drumming to be able to tour overseas with Graeme Bell’s band. His interests became increasingly progressive and he worked with Don Banks in the 60s playing at the Expos in Montreal, Canada and Tokyo, Japan. He played the vibraphone and marimbaphone and saw himself principally as a composer. The Hobbit Suite was typical of his eclectic style, mixing hummable tunes with highly abstract or impressionistic passages. It was followed by an eight-album set, Lord Of The Rings, as well as tribute works to Bix Beiderbecke and Duke Ellington. Film producers were attracted by his colourful style and he wrote numerous film scores including Fluteman (1982). © TiVo