Spike Robinson, 71; Jazz Saxophonist

Spike Robinson, 71, a jazz saxophonist who at his best was an outstanding tenor player in the Stan Getz-Zoot Sims tradition, died Oct. 29 in Writtle, central Essex, England.

Born Harry Berthold Robinson in Kenosha, Wis., he learned saxophone and later clarinet as a youth. By the age of 14, he was playing professionally and was a member of the musicians union. He joined the Navy after high school and played in the band. While stationed in Britain, he played with some of the leading British jazz players of the day.

After military service, he returned to the United States and earned a degree in electrical engineering at the University of Colorado. For 30 years, Robinson worked as an engineer. He played in jazz bands at night, mostly in Boulder, Colo., where he worked with Dave and Don Grusin.

In the mid-’80s, he retired from engineering and moved to England to pursue a musical career.