[Dixielandjazz] Campbell Burnap RIP

[John Petters]

I heard from Mike Pointon this morning of the unexpected and tragic 
death of Campbell Burnap, following a short illness.

I had a long association with Campbell, which more or less started with 
the Legends of American Dixieland Tour in 1989, with Wild Bill Davison 
and Art Hodes. Campbell was featured on most of the dates on what became 
the last tour both the American octogenarians.

Click here to see Campbell on stage with the Legends of American 
Dixieland- Runnin’ Wild

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aI7H2RMOfc

Struttin’ With Some Barbecue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejavbF1iM68


Campbell can be heard with the band on the CD ‘Coalition’, which 
Jazzology Records released in New Orleans.

In 1991, I put together a theatre package called the Legends of British 
Trad, which featured Campbell along with the late and much missed Dick 
Charlesworth, Alan Elsdon, sadly no longer playing, Neville Dickie and 
Tim Phillips.

Hear Campbell with the Legends of British Trad:
http://www.traditional-jazz.com/assets/clips/Baby.mp3

After the Legends run, Campbell was a regular guest at many of my 
festivals, delighting the crowds with his warm trombone phrases, which 
contained hints of Vic Dickinson and Jack Teagarden, along with a whole 
heap of original material.

He was a fine jazz singer with a magnificent voice and in my view he 
could have had a career as a singer had he been so inclined.

As well as his trombone playing career in such top UK bands as Terry 
Lightfoot’s and Acker Bilk’s, Campbell’s warm, rich voice, combined with 
his passion and knowledge for swinging jazz , made him a natural choice 
for presenting informed and intelligent jazz shows on BBC Radio.

The birth of Jazz FM in the 80s,  promised much and delivered little. 
The station did offer a  further glimpse at the skills of this fine 
broadcaster with his  excellent  show, ‘Mainstem’, which not only played 
great recordings from the past, but gave exposure to new CDs, which most 
other stations ignored.

Bristish traditional jazz has lost many legendary figures during the 
past year, George Melly, Dick Charlesworth, Humph and today Campbell. 
Somewhere in heaven there must be a hell of a jam session going
-- 
John Petters
www.traditional-jazz.com
Amateur Radio Station G3YPZ