Jimmy Deuchar
Encyclopedia
James "Jimmy" Deuchar (26 June 1930 - 9 September 1993) was a jazz
trumpet
er and big band arranger, born in Dundee, Scotland. He found fame as a performer and arranger in the 1950s and 1960s. Deuchar was taught trumpet by John Lynch, who learned bugle as a boy soldier in the First World War and who later was Director of Brass Music for Dundee.
, Deuchar worked with the seminal British modern jazz unit, the Johnny Dankworth Seven (1950–51). During the 1950s, he worked with a number of commercial bands, such as the Oscar Rabin Band
, and also intermittently with Ronnie Scott
. In the late 1950s he worked with Kurt Edelhagen
’s orchestra in Germany
.
He returned to the UK and worked again with Scott (1960-62) and with Tubby Hayes
(1962-66). As a highly gifted player and a leading exponent of the “modern” style, he was in some demand and achieved success as a touring player in Europe
and the United States
. He also “sat in” with leading American
players at Ronnie Scott's club
as musical exchanges were liberalised at the start of the sixties.
He returned to work with Edelhagen in 1966. Also during the sixties and early seventies, he worked with The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
, a big band featuring leading European and ex-patriate American musicians. He returned to London
around 1971, working freelance, and then to Dundee in the mid-1970s. He continued to arrange, play and guest in a number of settings, including the BBC Big Band
in London and the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra
in Glasgow until his health deteriorated. He died in 1993, aged 63.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
er and big band arranger, born in Dundee, Scotland. He found fame as a performer and arranger in the 1950s and 1960s. Deuchar was taught trumpet by John Lynch, who learned bugle as a boy soldier in the First World War and who later was Director of Brass Music for Dundee.
Career
After National ServiceNational service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
, Deuchar worked with the seminal British modern jazz unit, the Johnny Dankworth Seven (1950–51). During the 1950s, he worked with a number of commercial bands, such as the Oscar Rabin Band
Oscar Rabin Band
The Oscar Rabin Band was a British Jazz dance band that was one of the most successful bands of the 1950s. Band leader Oscar Rabin played bass saxophone, an unusual instrument then as now. His friend Harry Davis, tall, elegant and good-looking, acted as compère and conductor.-Formation:Oscar...
, and also intermittently with Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott
Ronnie Scott was an English jazz tenor saxophonist and jazz club owner.-Life and career:Ronnie Scott was born in Aldgate, east London, into a family of Russian Jewish descent on his father's side, and Portuguese antecedents on his mother's. Scott began playing in small jazz clubs at the age of...
. In the late 1950s he worked with Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen, born 5 June 1920 in Herne, died 8 February 1982 in Köln, was a major European big band leader throughout the 1950s.After having studied clarinet and piano in Essen, he set up his multicultural big band, which over the years would include many big names in jazz in Europe, including...
’s orchestra in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
He returned to the UK and worked again with Scott (1960-62) and with Tubby Hayes
Tubby Hayes
Edward Brian "Tubby" Hayes was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest British jazz instrumentalists.- Early life :Hayes was born...
(1962-66). As a highly gifted player and a leading exponent of the “modern” style, he was in some demand and achieved success as a touring player in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He also “sat in” with leading American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
players at Ronnie Scott's club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
as musical exchanges were liberalised at the start of the sixties.
He returned to work with Edelhagen in 1966. Also during the sixties and early seventies, he worked with The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke–Francy Boland Big Band was one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States.It was formed in 1961, when, with the help of producer Gigi Campi, the US drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist and composer Francy Boland and ex-Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode...
, a big band featuring leading European and ex-patriate American musicians. He returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
around 1971, working freelance, and then to Dundee in the mid-1970s. He continued to arrange, play and guest in a number of settings, including the BBC Big Band
BBC Big Band
The BBC Big Band, originally known as the BBC Radio Big Band is a British big band run under the auspices of the BBC. Widely regarded as the UK’s leading and most versatile jazz orchestra, the band broadcasts exclusivley on BBC Radio, particularly on BBC Radio 2's long running series Big Band Special...
in London and the BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra
BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Radio Orchestra was a light music broadcasting orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland, maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation from 1940 until disbandment in 1981.-History:...
in Glasgow until his health deteriorated. He died in 1993, aged 63.
Sources
- John Chilton, Who's Who of British Jazz, Cassell, London 1997
- Carr, Fairweather & Priestley, Jazz - the Essential Companion, Grafton Books, London 1987