John Bunch On Piano Jazz

Photo: Alan Nahigian/Arbors Records
by Grant Jackson
Pianist John Bunch was born in Tipton, Ind., a small farming community north of Indianapolis. As a boy, he studied piano, and at 14, he was already playing with bands in central Indiana. During WWII, he served on a B17 Flying Fortress that was shot down over Germany. Bunch and his crew were taken captive, and while in a prison camp, he learned to arrange for big bands.

After the war, he returned home to Indiana, where he was refused entry to study music at college — he couldn't sight-read classical music. But he connected with Indiana-based jazz players like Wes Montgomery. In 1956, Bunch moved to Los Angeles, where he joined the Woody Herman orchestra. He followed Herman to New York, where he made the move to Benny Goodman's band.

Bunch also worked with drummers Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, but he spent his longest stint working as Tony Bennett's musical director from 1966-72. Bunch's late career was devoted to working in the New York Swing Trio alongside guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and bassist Jay Leonhart. John Bunch died earlier this year at age 88.

"John [Bunch] was always so complimentary of my playing, and quite generous," host Marian McPartland says. "He always sent me the music to tunes that I asked about over the years. The last time we played together was at Dizzy's before he fell ill. I miss him terribly."

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Stars Celebrate 30 Years Of Piano Jazz

Opening this set is pianist Taylor Eigsti. He credits Piano Jazz host Marian McPartland as "a true inspiration" before beginning his modern rendition of "Stompin' at the Savoy," which yields passages both deft and delicate. Cyrus Chestnut's style is deeply rooted in both the blues and in church music, as you can hear when he interprets "Blame It on My Youth" as a slow blues, beginning with an out-of-key quote of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God."


Cedar Walton follows with a favorite recorded by McPartland on more than one occasion, Billy Strayhorn's "Daydream." Pianist and singer Dena DeRose croons "East of the Sun and West of the Moon" before Kenny Werner takes a page from Broadway with an extensive improvisation of "Somewhere" from West Side Story. Next, 18-year-old saxophonist Grace Kelly and McPartland take the stage for a dazzling duet of "Caravan." Kelly's surprisingly soulful alto offers further proof of why this talented young musician is praised by the alto masters Phil Woods and Lee Konitz. McPartland then accompanies vocalist Karrin Allyson in the melancholy "There Will Be Other Times," a McPartland original with lyrics by Margaret Jones.

The Pizzarelli brothers — John (guitar, vocals) and Martin (bass) — are joined by pianist "Gentleman" John Bunch for "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" before heading straight in to a jumping, scatting rendition of "Lady Be Good" to close out the set. Tune in next week for the third and final installment of this Piano Jazz celebration, featuring Arturo O'Farrill, Grady Tate, Joanne Brackeen, Randy Weston and more. You won't want to miss the final set of this special performance.
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