The Way Out West collective is dedicating its concert at the Orange Tree Theatre on Sunday evening to the late jazz legend Sir John Dankworth, who passed away earlier this month.

There will be a wide variety of jazz performed on the night, with the centrepiece of the concert being the premiere of a tribute piece, A Night at the Jazz Stables, written by Way Out West pianist, Eddie Harvey, 84, who played with Dankworth for more than 60 years and was a founder member of the Johnny Dankworth Seven.

“John and I started playing jazz together in the 40s and he was the hardest working bloke I’ve ever known,” says Harvey.

“Some people work hard and play hard, John just worked hard at music and had such a tremendous talent.”

During his distinguished career, Dankworth enjoyed top 10 hits with Experiments with Mice and African Waltz, played with many jazz greats, including Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong and Duke Elllington, and composed famous TV themes for Tomorrow’s World and The Avengers.

The saxophonist was also well known for his performances and recordings with his wife, who survives him, singer Dame Cleo Laine.

Yet, for all of his fame, Dankworth still maintained a love for small jazz venues and up-and-coming artists, and he made a number of apperances at Way Out West nights over the years.

“He has been very good to us – every time I asked him to do a show, he was willing to do it for no fee,” says Harvey.

“The one that stands out was at the Questors in Ealing and he even came to Richmond Adult College a few years ago and did a session.

“We were actually talking about doing another concert with John this year – if he had been well enough, he would have been there on Sunday.”

The Way Out West collective features established players such as Harvey, Tim Whitehead and Pete Hurt, alongside burgeoning talents including vocalists Emily Saunders and Katriona Taylor – all of whom will be appearing in Sunday’s concert.

The group members perform headline concerts throughout the year at regular Way Out West nights (every Wednesday at Richmond’s Orange Tree pub), with two fundraising all stars’ shows a year over the road at the Orange Tree theatre.

Way Out West All Stars, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond, February 28, 7pm, £13/£11, wowjazz.org