John Bunch

• Name — John Bunch • Landscape — yes • Born — 1 December 1921 • Birthplace — Tipton, Indiana, U.S. • Died — 30 March 2010 • Place of death — New York City, U.S. • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Piano • Label — Audiophile Records, Chiaroscuro, Arbors, Progressive

Born and raised in Tipton, Indiana, a small farming community, Bunch studied piano with George Johnson, a Hoosier jazz pianist. By the age of 14, he was already playing with adult bands in central Indiana.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces and became a bombardier on a B17 Flying Fortress. He and his ten-man crew were transferred to combat duty in England, flying bombing missions over Germany. His plane was shot down on November 2, 1944, and Bunch was taken prisoner. In the prison camp, he learned to arrange for big bands. After the war, he applied for university training as a music major, but was refused because he could not sight read classical music. He worked later in factories and insurance. In 1956, he moved to Los Angeles where he immediately was accepted by jazz musicians such as Georgie Auld and Jimmie Rowles, who later recommended him to Woody Herman. He settled in New York in 1958, where he joined Eddie Condon and Maynard Ferguson. He recorded with Ferguson and many smaller groups. In 1966, Bunch joined Tony Bennett as pianist and musical director, and stayed with the singer until 1972. During that time he appeared on Bennett's 1972 series for Thames Television, Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town. After that, he resumed his jazz work, performing and recording with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Pearl Bailey, and Scott Hamilton. He led a trio, mostly in England, and made many recordings as a leader, such as with the New York Swing Trio with Bucky Pizzarelli and Jay Leonhart. Bunch remained active in Europe and the United States during his final years. He died of melanoma in Roosevelt Hospital, Manhattan, New York City, on March 30, 2010. He was survived by his wife, Cecily "Chips" Gemmell, a former private secretary to Winston Churchill.

• Year recorded — Title — Label — Personnel/Notes • 1975 — John's Bunch — Progressive — With Urbie Green (trombone), Al Cohn (tenor sax), Milt Hinton (bass), Mousey Alexander (drums) • 1975 — John Bunch Plays Kurt Weill — Chiaroscuro — Solo piano; reissue added solo piano tracks recorded in 1991 • 1977? — Jubilee — Audiophile — Trio, with Cal Collins (guitar), George Mraz (bass) • 1977 — John's Other Bunch — Progressive — With Warren Vaché (trumpet), Scott Hamilton (tenor sax), Michael Moore (bass), Connie Kay (drums) • 1977? — Slick Funk — Famous Door • 1987? — The Best Thing for You — Concord — Trio, with Phil Flanigan (bass), Chuck Riggs (drums) • 1994? — Plays Rodgers & Hart — LRC — As New York Swing; quartet, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) Jay Leonhart (bass), Joe Cocuzzo (drums) • 1994? — Tributes Cole Porter — LRC — As New York Swing; quartet, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) Jay Leonhart (bass), Joe Cocuzzo (drums) • 1994? — Tributes Jerome Kern — LRC — As New York Swing; quartet, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) Jay Leonhart (bass), Dennis Mackrel (drums) • 1995 — Struttin' — Arbors — Duo, with Phil Flanigan (bass) • 1996 — Solo — Arbors — Solo piano • 1996 — New York Swing — Chiaroscuro — Trio, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) Jay Leonhart (bass); in concert • 1997 — World War II Love Songs — Groove Jams — Trio, with Michael Moore (bass), Butch Miles (drums) • 2001? — Love in the Spring — Koch • 2001 — A Special Alliance — Arbors — Trio, with Dave Green (bass), Steve Brown (drums) • 2002? — Manhattan Swing: A Visit With Duke Ellington — Arbors — Trio, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), Jay Leonhart (bass) • 2003 — An English Songbook — Chiaroscuro — Solo piano • 2003 — Tony's Tunes — Chiaroscuro — Trio, with Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar), Jay Leonhart (bass) • 2006 — At the Nola Penthouse: Salutes Jimmy Van Heusen — Arbors — Trio, with Dave Green (bass), Steve Brown (drums) • 2008 — Plays the Music of Irving Berlin (Except One) — Arbors — Some tracks trio, with Frank Vignola (guitar), John Webber (bass); some tracks quartet, with Frank Wess (flute) added • 2009 — Do Not Disturb — Arbors — Trio, with Frank Vignola (guitar), John Webber (bass)

With Benny Bailey • The Satchmo Legacy (Enja, 2000) With Buck Clayton and Tommy Gwaltney's Kansas City 9 • Goin' to Kansas City (Riverside, 1960) With Kenny Davern • Live at the Floating Jazz Festival • The Jazz KENnection With Maynard Ferguson • A Message from Newport (Roulette, 1958) With Gene Krupa • The Great New Gene Krupa Quartet Featuring Charlie Ventura (Verve, 1964) With Donnie O'Brien • Donnie O' Brien Meets Manhattan Swing: In a Basie Mood (Arbors) With Bucky Pizzarelli • Five for Freddie (Arbors) With Rex Stewart and Dicky Wells • Chatter Jazz (RCA Victor, 1959)