One of the top British classic jazz pianists of the last several decades, Keith Nichols, who also played trombone and (occasionally) vibes, led his first jazz band while in high school. He joined Mike Daniels' combo in 1964 (with whom he made his recording debut), put together the first of his many professional groups, and between 1967 and 1968 recorded with Dick Sudhalter's Anglo-American Alliance. During a period when the fortunes of classic jazz were at a low point, Nichols worked with a vaudeville band called the Levity Lancers from 1967 to 1974. While in New York, Nichols played trombone with the New Paul Whiteman Orchestra and wrote charts for the New York Jazz Repertory Company. In 1978 he put together the Midnite Follies Orchestra. Since then, he was a freelancer both in England and the U.S., and was in demand whenever a stride pianist or a new vintage arrangement was needed. Nichols also recorded as a leader for One-Up (1973 to 1977) and on a variety of projects for Stomp Off (starting in 1983) and P.E.K. (during the 2000s). Keith Nichols died in London on January 20, 2021 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus; he was 75 years old. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi