The hugely respected and genial jazz saxophonist Spike Robinson, who died on October 29th aged 71, was the last in a line of great players, like Stan Getz and Zoot Sims, who were influenced by Lester Young. American by birth, he became a cricket-playing Anglophile, living in Britain and regularly performing at Test matches at Lord's.
Originally from Kenosha, Wisconsin, he was taught to play the saxophone by a friend of his father, and studied classical clarinet with a teacher from the Vienna Conservatory. He played jazz in local clubs during his high school years, before enlisting in the US navy as a musician. In 1948, he was billeted in London and, by now a proficient alto performer and bebop aficionado, arrived at Club Eleven in Soho, a meeting place for jazz modernists such as Johnny Dankworth and Ronnie Scott.
He became a regular participant in their sessions - in defiance of Musicians' Union rules prohibiting foreign players - even recording with Scott's Boptet, and Victor Feldman on piano, for the Esquire label in 1951. By the time his national service ended later that year, he had built up a lucrative circuit of London engagements.
Back in the US, and with a family to support, he realised that he needed a more secure lifestyle, so he invoked the GI Bill of Rights and studied mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado, later taking a master's at Detroit University.
He then embarked on a career in the aerospace industry around Denver, tried running his own club and worked as an engineering supervisor. But throughout this 30-year period, he played jazz gigs - now exclusively on tenor-saxophone - becoming something of a local treasure, largely unknown elsewhere.
Then, in 1981, he recorded his first album, for the Discovery label, and was reunited with Victor Feldman, by then a US resident. British jazz historian Brian Davis heard the recording, was impressed and arranged playing visits to Britain for Spike Robinson in 1984 and 1986. This resulted in more recording work and good reviews.
Newly divorced, in 1985 he took early retirement from his day job and built a new career, playing US clubs and touring in Europe. By 1989, he was sharing his time between Colorado, Britain and mainland Europe. When he contracted meningitis in France, Susan May, his British agent, had him flown back to Essex and recovery.
Later, when Spike Robinson and May were married, he began a wonderfully productive decade. His warmth and humour - plus his engaging way with nice old tunes - made him everyone's friend. He joined Essex County Cricket Club and performed regularly at Test matches at Lord's with the In-swingers, a band led by fellow saxophonist John Barnes.
Spike Robinson (Harry Bertholf): born 1930; died, October 2001