The Johnny Burch Octet | |
|---|---|
| Origin | England |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Years active | 1963 to 1966, 1984 |
| Labels | 1960s Records, Rhythm & Blues Records |
| Spinoffs | The Graham Bond Organisation |
| Past members | Early 1963 line-up Ginger Baker |
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 on radio broadcasts. The ensemble is also notable for the experienced musicians who were members and participated in the recordings.
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 Burke 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]
The members at one stage 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]
Part of the Octet was 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]
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]
Along with the Harry South Trio, the Octet was appearing at the Flamingo at 7:30 Pm on Saturday January 18, 1964.[16]
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.[17] They were appearing for the Opening Nite session on Monday 11 January at 7:30pm to 11:00pm.[18] They were still appearing on Monday 7:30pm to 11:00pm on the week of January 16, 1965.[19]
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".[20]
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.[21]
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.[22]
The Octet was reformed in 1984. Dick Morrissey was also part of that ensemble.[23]
In 2019, a record of the ensemble's 1963 and 1965 sessions was issued on the 1960s Records label cat# 33XXR&B39.[24][25] 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.[26]
The track "All Members " was played on Program. No. 1,181 of WRTC-FM on December 16, 2019.[27]
Burchall died on 18 April, 2006.[28]
| 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[33] |
| Title | Track | Catalogue | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soho Scene 1964-65 (Jazz Goes Mod) | "All Members", "Ritual" | Rhythm and Blues Records RANDB058CD | 2019 | CD[34] |