Johnny Burch Octet

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  • John Burch (musician)
The Johnny Burch Octet
OriginEngland
GenresJazz
Years active1963 to 1966, 1984
Labels1960s Records, Rhythm & Blues Records
SpinoffsThe Graham Bond Organisation
Past membersEarly 1963 line-up

Ginger Baker
Graham Bond
Jack Bruce
John Burch
Mike Falana
Miff Moule
John Mumford
Stan Robinson

The Johnny Burch Octet was a jazz ensemble that played at various well-known venues around London. Led by Johnny Burch, they recorded during the 1960s and were heard nationally on radio broadcasts. The ensemble is also notable for the experienced musicians who were members and participated in the recordings.

Background

Some of the venues the ensemble played at were the Plough pub in Ilford Lane,[1] Klooks Kleek[2] and the Flamingo club.[3]

An early stage of the Johnny Burch Octet was Johnny Birch on piano, Johnny Huckridge on Trumpet, Johnny Mumford on trombone, Graham Bond on alto sax, Dick Heckstall-Smith on tenor sax, Glen Hughes on baritone sax, Jack Bruce on bass and Ginger Baker on drums. Johnny Huckridge got a job with the Ted Heath Orchestra and was replaced by Mike Falana. Some time later Glen Hughes went to Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames. He was replaced by Miff Moule.[4]

At one stage the ensemble included Ginger Baker, Graham Bond, Jack Bruce, John Burch, Mike Falana, Miff Moule, John Mumford and Stan Robinson.[5] Ray Warleigh was also a member for a period of time.[6] The Octet's line up included musicians that had made up the Graham Bond Trio.[7]

One of the musicians that was influenced by the group was Ian Drury who would go down to catch them whenever they were playing and learnt everything from listening to them.[8] According to Jack Bruce, Drury said that the Octet was the best jazz band that he had heard in England.[9] They were referred to in the book Blowing the Blues by Dick Heckstall-Smith and Pete Gran as a trail-blazing band of the early 1960s.[10]

In an interview with Ivan Beavis, Dick Heckstall Smith was asked by Bevis, to describe the music,[11] He replied, "jazz. Stylistically it was, what you might call, grounded in bebop approach changes. It was very driving music. I suppose you can call it hard bop in a way but I mean, it wasn't like anything that we know of as hard bop."[12]

Career

1963

In January, 1963 the ensemble was playing at Klooks Kleek.[13]

In March 1963, the ensemble came together and a live broadcast for the BBC took place. It was also recorded. It featured Johnny Burch on piano, Mike Falana on trumpet, John Mumford on tenor sax, Stan Robinson on tenor sax, Graham Bond on alto sax, Miff Moule on baritone sax, Jack Bruce on bass, and Ginger Baker on drums. The pieces they performed included "Moanin’", " Early In the Morning", "All Members", " I Remember Clifford", "Going Up North", "Nightwalk" and "Del Sasser".[14][15]

While with the Octet, Mike Falana was pictured at a reception with Sammy Davis, Jnr. and Davis' MD George Rhodes at the Mayfair Hotel. The photo taken by Val Wilmer and caption was included in the May 1963 edition of Crescendo magazine.[16][17]

1964

Along with the Harry South Trio, the Octet was appearing at the Flamingo at 7:30 Pm on Saturday January 18, 1964.[18]

It was reported by Melody Maker in the magazine's December 26 issue that the Johnny Burch Octet was appearing as the resident band for Monday nights at the Flamingo club. They were also guesting on BBC's Light program on the 30th of that month.[19]

1965

They were appearing for the Opening Nite session on Monday 11 January at 7:30pm to 11:00pm.[20] They were still appearing on Monday 7:30pm to 11:00pm on the week of January 16, 1965.[21]

The ensemble did another session in November 1965. In addition to Burch on piano the musicians were Jeff Clyne on bass, Mike Scott on drums, Peter King on Tenor Sax, Ken Wray on trombone and Hank Shaw on trumpet. The pieces they performed were " The Champ", "Ritual", "Oleo", " Stolen Moments", "Milestones" and "Ritual".[22]

Post Johnny Burch Octet

Mike Falana was later recruited by Graham Bond for his Graham Bond Organisation and stayed with that outfit for a year before joining the African Messengers.[23]

Later years

According to an article in the March 1983 issue of Modern Drummer, Ginger Baker said that the octet was the best jazz band he ever played in.[24]

The Octet was reformed in 1984. Dick Morrissey was also part of that ensemble.[25]

In 2019, a record of the ensemble's 1963 and 1965 sessions was issued on the 1960s Records label cat# 33XXR&B39.[26][27] The album was reviewed by LA Jazz Scene in June 2020. Referring to the sound quality as so so, but said there was plenty of excitement with the numbers including "Moanin'", "Del Sasser", and “Nightwalk", and called it an enjoyable release.[28]

The track "All Members " was played on Program. No. 1,181 of WRTC-FM on December 16, 2019.[29]

Death

Burchall died on 18 April, 2006.[30]

Members

1963
March, 1963

[31]

Late 1964
(*note Swinfield and Warleigh play at different times)

[32]

1965
November, 1965
  • Johnny Burch - piano, leader
  • Jeff Clyne - bass
  • Peter King - tenor sax
  • Harry Klein - bass
  • Mike Scott- drums
  • Ray Swinfield
  • Ken Wray - trombone
  • Hank Shaw - trumpet

[33][34]

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[35]
Various artists compilation appearances
Title Track Catalogue Year Notes
Soho Scene 1964-65 (Jazz Goes Mod) "All Members", "Ritual" Rhythm and Blues Records RANDB058CD 2019 CD[36]


Further reading

  • The Blue Moment, April 18, 2019 - Fat John & John Burch by Richard Williams

References

  1. ^ The Official Jack Bruce Website - Jack's Diary: 1998, 16 August 1998
  2. ^ Popsike (Jazz News and Review 16 Jan 1963) - Jazz News and Review 16 Jan 1963 Rolling Stones Alexis Korner Graham Bond
  3. ^ Melody Maker, January 18, 1964 - Page 13 JAZZ CLUBS - LONDON, FLAMINGO
  4. ^ Ginger Baker Hellraiser, - Chapter Five The Road to Graham Bond, Johnny Burke got an octet together ...
  5. ^ Jazz Messengers - JOHNNY BURCH JAZZ BEAT W/ GINGER BAKER & JACK BRUCE (RANDB39LP)
  6. ^ The Guardian, Thu 18 May 2006 - John Burch - John Fordham
  7. ^ A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs, July 2, 2023 - Episode 166: “Crossroads” by Cream BY ANDREW HICKEY
  8. ^ It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine, October 13, 2019 - Jack Bruce interview, Was this before you hooked up with Graham?
  9. ^ The Official Jack Bruce Website - Jack's Diary: 1998, 16 August 1998
  10. ^ Blowing the Blues: Fifty Years Playing the British Blues, Dick Heckstall-Smith, Pete Grant · 2004 - ISBN 1-904555-04-7 - Page 19 1:2 SUBSTANCES
  11. ^ GrahamBond.org - Dick Heckstall-Smith Interviews, Dick Heckstall Smith Interview by Ivan Beavis, IB:
  12. ^ GrahamBond.org - Dick Heckstall-Smith Interviews, Dick Heckstall Smith Interview by Ivan Beavis, DH-S:
  13. ^ Popsike (Jazz News and Review 16 Jan 1963) - Jazz News and Review 16 Jan 1963 Rolling Stones Alexis Korner Graham Bond
  14. ^ Jazz Music Archives - JOHNNY BURCH — JOHNNY BURCH OCTET : JAZZBEAT
  15. ^ Jazz Journal, 2 May 2019 - Johnny Burch Octet : Jazz Beat By Matthew Wright
  16. ^ Crescendo, May 1963 - Page 10
  17. ^ Crescendo International Volume 1 - "MIke+Falana"Johnny+Burch"&dq="MIke+Falana"Johnny+Burch"&printsec=frontcover Page 10
  18. ^ Melody Maker, January 18, 1964 - Page 13 JAZZ CLUBS - LONDON, FLAMINGO
  19. ^ Melody Maker, December 26, 1964 - Page 11 Flamingo Jazz
  20. ^ Record Mirror, No. 200 Week ending January 9, 1965 - Page 8 rm club & concert guide, FLAMINGO & ALL NIGHTER CLUBS
  21. ^ Record Mirror, No. 201 Week ending January 16, 1965 - Page 10 rm club & concert guide, FLAMINGO & ALL NIGHTER CLUBS
  22. ^ Jazz Music Archives - JOHNNY BURCH — JOHNNY BURCH OCTET : JAZZBEAT
  23. ^ Black Popular Music in Britain Since 1945, By Jon Stratton, Nabeel Zuberi · 2016 - ISBN 978-1-317-17389-2 - Chapter 2 Melting Pot Page 30 - 31
  24. ^ Modern drummer, March 1983 - Page 86 GINGER BAKER
  25. ^ The Guardian, Thu 18 May 2006 - John Burch - John Fordham
  26. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat
  27. ^ Jazz Messengers - 1960'S RECORDSJAZZ BEAT W/ GINGER BAKER & JACK BRUCE, JOHNNY BURCH, JAZZ BEAT W/ GINGER BAKER & JACK BRUCE (RANDB39LP)
  28. ^ LA Jazz Scene, June 2020 - Jazz CD Reviews June 2020 Johnny Burch Octet Jazzbeat (Rhythm And Blues Records)
  29. ^ WRTC - Dec. 16, 2019 (Program. No. 1,181)
  30. ^ The Guardian, Thu 18 May 2006 - John Burch - John Fordham
  31. ^ Jazz Music Archives - JOHNNY BURCH — JOHNNY BURCH OCTET : JAZZBEAT, Line-up/Musicians
  32. ^ Melody Maker, December 26, 1964 - Page 11 Flamingo Jazz
  33. ^ Jazz Music Archives - JOHNNY BURCH — JOHNNY BURCH OCTET : JAZZBEAT, Line-up/Musicians
  34. ^ Henry Bebop, British modern jazz - from the 1940s onwards... - John Burch..., The Johnny Burch Octet - 14th November, 1965
  35. ^ Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet – Jazzbeat
  36. ^ Tower Records - Jazz CD Soho Scene 1964-65 (Jazz Goes Mod)

External links

  • Discogs - Johnny Burch Octet