Wikipedia

John Burch (musician)

(Redirected from Johnny Burch Octet)
For the English organist, see John Birch (musician). For the Bermudian guitarist, John Burch, see The Invaders (band).

John Burch (born John Alexander Burchell; 6 January 1932 – 18 April 2006) was an English pianist, composer and bandleader, equally at home playing traditional jazz, bebop, blues, skiffle, boogie-woogie and rock.

John Burch
Birth nameJohn Alexander Burchell
BornLondon, England
Died18 April 2006(2006-04-18) (aged 74)
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
LabelsRhythm & Blues Records, AndromiDen Recordings
Formerly ofDon Rendell And His Big 8, The Johnny Burch Octet, Johnny Burch Trio, Don Rendell Quintet, The Dick Morrissey Quartet, The New Don Rendell Quintet, Tommy Chase—Ray Warleigh Quartet

Background

edit

Burch was born in London on 6 January 1932.[1] Having started piano lessons at age 12, he played in army bands during his military service stationed in Germany and in the late 1950s toured military bases with his trio.[2] In 1959, he toured France with bassist Jeff Clyne and saxophonist Bobby Wellins.[2]

In 1960 Burch joined Allan Ganley's Jazzmakers.[2] In the early and mid-1960s he led a quartet and an octet with Dick Heckstall-Smith, Ray Warleigh, Peter King, Hank Shaw and future Cream founders Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce.[2] In the 1960s, Burch was one of many UK-based musicians who "moved easily between traditional jazz, bebop, blues, skiffle, boogie, and rock".[2] As an accompanist, he played with American musicians who were visiting the UK; in 1966 these included Freddie Hubbard, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, and Red Rodney.[2]

As a composer, he wrote "Preach and Teach" (1966) which provided the B-side of Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames' hit "Yeh Yeh" and was also recorded by Buddy Rich.[2] He composed Fame's follow-up, "In the Meantime", and also its B-side, "Telegram".[3]

He was also a teacher on the Barry Summer School jazz-education project, which was attended by pianist Keith Tippett.[2]

Career

edit

In a performance, John Burch played with Don Rendell, Graham Bond, Tony Archer, and Phil Kinorra. The songs performed were, "Bring Back the Burch", "Manumission", "Blue Monk", "Jeannine", "You Loomed Out of Loch Ness", "So What", and "The Haunt". The performance was recorded, credited to the New Don Rendell Quintet and released as Roarin' on Jazzland JLP 51 in 1961.[4]

On 19 September 1962, Burch on piano played in the Don Rendell Quintet at the Paris Cinema. Other musicians included Don Rendell on tenor and soprano saxophone etc., Graham Bond on alto saxophone, Dick Heckstall-Smith on tenor saxophone, Tony Archer on bass and Ted Pope on drums. The session was recorded.[5]

Johnny Burch Octet

edit

In 1963, Burch, Mike Falana John Mumford, Graham Bond, Stan Robinson, Miff Moule, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker participated in a live broadcast for the BBC.[6][7]

In 1965, Burch, Hank Shaw, Ken Wray, Ray Swinfield, Peter King, Harry Klein, Jeff Clyne and Mike Scott participated in a live broadcast for the BBC in November 1965.[8][7]

In 1984, he re-formed the octet with Dick Morrissey.[2] He dedicated his "Resurrection Ritual Suite" to Dick Morrissey and on his death had just completed a tribute to Ronnie Scott called "Just by Chance".[2]

Discography
Albums
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Johnny Burch Octet Jazzbeat 1960s Records 33XXR&B39 2019 LP
Johnny Burch Octet Jazzbeat Rhythm & Blues Records RANDB055 2019 CD[9]

Johnny Burch Trio

edit

The Johnny Burch Trio was active in 1965. It consisted of Johnny Burch on piano, Ron Mathewson on Bass and Alan Green on drums.[10]

Discography
Albums
Act Release Catalogue Year Notes
Red Price, Ray Warleigh & Chris Pyne
with the Johnny Burch Trio 		Groovin' High:
Jam Session At The Hopbine, 1965 		Acrobat – ACMCD4393 2017 CD[11]

Death

edit

Burch died from cancer on 18 April 2006.[2]

Later years

edit

In 2019, the recordings by the Johnny Burch Octet that was recorded in 1963 and 1965 were released on the album, Jazz Beat.[12][7] Also in 2019, Burch appeared on the compilation So Much, So Quickly: British Modern Jazz Pianists 1948-62, playing on the track "Manumission" which was credited to John Burch featured With The New Don Rendell Quintet.[13][14]

References

edit
  1. ^ Chilton, John (2004). Who's Who of British Jazz (2nd ed.). Continuum. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-8264-7234-2.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fordham, John (18 May 2006). "John Burch". The Guardian.
  3. ^ "Georgie Fame And The Blue Flames - In The Meantime / Telegram - Columbia - UK - DB 7494". 45cat. 20 February 1965. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  4. ^ Jazzlists - Jazzland discography, Roarin', The New Don Rendell Quintet, 1961, Jazzland JLP 51
  5. ^ Rockasteria, Tuesday, 7 June 2016 - Graham Bond - Live At BBC And Other Stories (1962-72 uk, splendid bebop jazz rhythm 'n' blues prog rock, 2015 four discs box set remaster)
  6. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat, Back cover, Personnel SIDE ONE, March 1963
  7. ^ a b c Jazz Messengers - 1960'S RECORDSJAZZ BEAT W/ GINGER BAKER & JACK BRUCE, JOHNNY BURCH
  8. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat, Back cover, Personnel SIDE TWO, November 1965
  9. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat
  10. ^ The Musicians' Olympus - HiStats, Ron Mathewson (bass), JOHNNY BURCH GROUP
  11. ^ Amazon - Groovin High
  12. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat
  13. ^ Spotify - Compilation, So Much, So Quickly: British Modern Jazz Pianists 1948-62, Disc 2, Manumission
  14. ^ UK Vibe, 29 September 2018 - Album Reviews, Various ‘So Much, So Quickly: British Modern Jazz Pianists 1948-62’ 2CD (ACROBAT MUSIC) 4/5
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Burch_(musician)&oldid=1249382260"