don burrows stompin at the savoy 1984

MBBBBand....peter trotta, craig scott; peter cross, warwick alder, tom baker,jason morphet, steve brien, bob johnson, paul andrews,john morrison, don burrows, glenn hendrich, kevin hunt.....james morrison;
Don Burrows had been touring major International Festivals, bringing jazz a higher profile in Australia. We became regular listeners at the Wentworth Supper Club where Alan Turnbull and George Golla, Ed Gaston were the rhythm section. Don was playin great. In ‗72, he received an ‗OBE' for his contribution. Jazz was getting some airplay on radio and eventually, on ABC TV. In '73, Don had approached Rex Hobcroft (head of the Sydney Con) about a ‗Jazz Program' and Rex was keen to try it. Don asked Gary Burton to be ‗Head of Jazz Studies' but he couldn't come, so he recommended Howie Smith. Don has always been there, such a gentleman and often very helpful to us youngsters.....
(Don Burrows and I played together in the eighties with James Morrison's Big Bad Band, Kevin Hunt and George Golla. We played gigs on ABC Television and a few tours to Melbourne and ACT.).

[@jeffreygould1831]

A young emigrant to Melbourne Australia from London with my parents at the age of 17 in 1948 I'd first came under the spell and was captivated by the jazz of those days listening to the American Forces radio station during WW2. A kid, sitting in the air-raid in our back garden I'd listen to all my Yankee musical heroes, Woody Herman, Duke Ellington, Glen Miller and Count Basie. I'd come from a musical Family. My cousin Ivor was a great jazz saxophonist in the Royal Air-Force Dance Band,The Squadronairs; he's over 90 now and, guess what he's still doing gigs!!!! My uncle, Harry Gold and his 'The Pieces of Eight' had a well known band during and after the war. After the war I worked with my father a furniture repairer and one morning on the way to his little workshop we got off the bus and he took me to a musical instrument shop and bought me a second hand trumpet. Not much work was done that day - we both ended up sitting on the workbench getting sore lips trying to get a sound out of it. With lessons I eventually learned to play it and would go and play in some of the top London jazz clubs. One night in a jazz club I was invited to sit in with a band when the Ink Spots came in the club. My mother laying in bed late a night would always hear me coming home down our street whistling spot on jazz note-for-note in our street at night.
At first I was at a loss on a arrival in Melbourne. Knowing nowhere to hear Jazz!!! And then, halelluya! 1949?? One Saturday night I went to a then well known very big dance hall up on the esplanade in St Kilda. There was this big band playing and, who, unknown to me at this time, who should be in the reeds? I enquired, this fantastic saxophonist -- 'DON BURROWS' He stood out from all the others. From this time on, whenever he played in Melbourne I would be there jitterbugin. One other particular place he occasionally played in in Melbourne was at a jazz club close to the beach in Elwood.
James Morrison, I saw your show on TV tonight G-d Bless you and yours for caring so wonderfully for Don. I've just gone through a similar experience. The love of my life, my beautiful Annie left me last year with the same disability.

[@World-birder]

we need to see more Don Burrows, childhood memories!
i'm from shanghai, China by the way

[@marilynstevenson865]

Oh..Don..!!! You were far better than my Dad,..and I adored my Dad...

[@annalisaandrews9013]

Looking good Paul!!!

[@jimgilbert2340]

Rare footage of James Morrison with hair...

[@eguchi351]

trombone player looks like james morrison.

[@HowardFerrier]

It is.