updated Tuesday May 10, 2022 at 11:09:16
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John Brunton RIP 5th Feb 2022
A family message from Gary Brunton
Our dad John Brunton had three main loves in
life: He was a gentle, modest, kind man and though not religious, he brought us up with strong values on equality and was staunchly anti-racist. His wonderful sense of humour stayed with him right till the very end. The soundtrack of our childhood was loud baritone saxophone and screeching clarinet. He encouraged us to take up instruments (keen on his sons becoming his rhythm section). In later years he would concentrate on tenor sax and clarinet. Those who had the pleasure of hearing him play will agree, « he swung like the bloody clappers » and could play a melody like no-one else.
He was a fine cricketer and we were often told by his pals
in the pub (after a few beers) that his footballing skills
could have got him into the Burnley side ! 07/02/22 - I was deeply saddened on hearing the news of John Brunton's death. I can only reiterate what I wrote on Facebook
Not only was he a fine musician but, more
importantly, a lovely and kind human being. R.I.P. John . 08/02/22 - I’m sorry to learn of the death of reeds player John Brunton on Sunday 6th February. He had suffered a number of age-related complaints in recent years. John and I have been musical acquaintances for a long time, most recently with the Spirit of New Orleans Band. He was an excellent player and seemed able to pick up any tune and play it effortlessly in an appropriate style. His musical ability and genial approach made him a pleasure to play with. John was an enthusiastic supporter of Lancashire Cricket and Burnley Football Clubs, who will have to soldier on without him. His funeral is planned for March 2nd. Condolences to Dorothy and their talented musical sons, Gary and John.
Harmoniously, 10/02/22 -
So sad to hear the news of the death of my
good friend and fellow musician John Brunton. John and
I have played together in many bands over the past 40 years,
they include the Dave Donohoe band, The Magnolia band and
the Spirit of New Orleans band. John was such an easy
person to get on with and more important a good listener and
sympathetic team player from a band point of view. His tone
on clarinet was beautiful and he had a great feeling for the
type of New Orleans music we were trying to play. He
has a great sense of humour and often had me in fits of
laughter during our playing days. John was first and
foremost a good family man and I knew he was very proud of
his sons John Junior and Gary both very talented
musicians and a devoted husband to his wife Dorothy. 11/02/22 - So very sorry, Fred, to hear about the death of John Brunton. I remember him years ago playing with Harry Long and more recently with Spirit of New Orleans and the Forest. He was a very good clarinettist and sax and such a great bloke - who liked to rib me about Burnley’s 7-1 cup win over my team, Bradford City, in 1959 and Statham bowling out Yorkshire at Old Trafford. Sincere condolences to his family and friends. Andrew Liddle 11/02/22 - There have been many sad losses to jazz in the northwest over recent months but the news about John Brunton affected me more than I expected. I enjoyed his company very much and when John & Dorothy arrived at a gig I knew it was going to be a good night. Such a lovely couple. I played with John many times over the years and have a number of recordings, but whenever I put together a compilation of music to play in the car I always include this exquisitely relaxed version of John and Frank playing Down in Honky Tonk Town, recorded when John and I sat in with The Silver Bell Band in August 1990. I last met John and Dorothy at the Eagley Jazz Club Spirit of New Orleans gig in May 2014. I recorded Muskrat Ramble which is on YouTube .RIP John.
Whilst I was looking for some photos of John
Brunton, I came across this which I'd forgotten is
on my YouTube channel. - New Orleans Jazz (Manchester, UK) Jammin' at The Gadlys (2)
So lucky to have know you as a musician and
friend. 13/02/22 - Such sad news about John, he was always a pleasure to listen to and play alongside and a genuinely nice guy. As well as his regular jobs with the various bands he played in, he also did quite a few jobs for me at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and also on the Music and Ale Trains on the Settle to Carlisle Railway Below is a photograph taken at Keighley Railway station in 2009. My thoughts are with Dorothy, Garry and John at this sad time. - Mark Croasdale
16/02/22 - I have played regularly with John for over forty years and can say that having played with many of the leading reed players of our generation John was my favourite for tone and feeling in interpreting New Orleans jazz. I will miss him very much , myself and Maxine have been good friends with John and Dorothy over many years and I have also enjoyed working with their two sons John and Gary, both professional musicians, at Delph Band Club at various times. - Mal Horne 18/02/22 - As someone who was often in the audience when the Forest NOJB played at both their various residencies in E. Lancs. and as the guest band in W. Yorks, I would just like to pay my own tribute to John Brunton who sadly died recently, his death coming so soon after that of another Forest stalwart Jack Moore. Just like his fellow trained musicians who’ve paid their own tributes, I always greatly enjoyed John’s clarinet and saxophone playing ( he never sang did he ? ) and in addition found him to be one of the nicest and friendliest men you could ever wish to meet. I can quite believe that in his younger days he was an outstanding footballer and cricketer ( I bet he was never any trouble to referees and umpires! ). Graham Dawson, 22/02/22 - Just to reply to Graham’s question/ Our dad could be heard occasionally singing Silver Bells with the Spirit of New Orleans band at Christmas time. There was also a blues he used to sing… maybe Dave Pogson witnessed this? But it was rare and you really had to twist his arm for him to sing! I also have childhood memories of him playing a bit of boogie woogie piano on our old upright piano in Burnley - Gary Brunton 09/05/22 - John Brunton, like me, was also at the Grammar school, a couple of years below me. He, too, was a very fine cricketer and also played football at a high standard in the local amateur leagues. Recently, I came across photographs of the two of us appearing in both cricket and football teams for the school's Ist. XI. Whilst John played with a number of jazz bands I was particularly pleased when he agreed to join The Pendle Jazzmen on a regular basis, firstly at The Inn on the Wharf and then at Ighten Mount Club - both in Burnley. Courtesy Burnley Express Friday 18th Feb 08/05/22 - A farewell charity jazz event with the Forest Jazz Band took place today remembering John Brunton, Jack Moore & Tom Culbert, and a collection took place all in aid of Pendleside Hospice in memory of John Brunton. Photographs here - Fred Burnett
10/05/22 - Dear friends, my brother John and myself were
sorry not be at Sunday’s gig. Thanks to Jeff and Mark for
organizing this fantastic send off and for everybody's
generous donations to Pendleside Hospice adding to the
substantial total already collected at our Dad’s service in
March. Our Mum Dorothy was present for an hour or so but it
was all too emotional for her to stay the whole afternoon.
I’ve been to so many Forest and Spirit of New Orleans gigs
that i can hear the sounds just by looking at the photos! I
remain hopeful and positive that present and future
generations will play live jazz and that audiences will come
out and liste.
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