[Dixielandjazz] Vale Ian Pearce

[Bill Haesler]

Dear friends,
More sad news.
Another dear jazzmate has gone.
Following a relatively short illness pianist Ian Pearce died at the Royal Hobart Hospital this morning.
I am awaiting further details.
For those on the Bcc: list, please feel free to pass this on.
Included below is my short biography of Ian, written for the book 'Jottings of a Jazzman. Selected writings of Len Barnard'.
Very kind regards,
Bill.

Pearce, Ian [Nog] OAM 1995: (b. Hobart, Tas 22 October 1921) trumpet/piano/trombone/composer. Studied piano as a child and discovered jazz in 1936 with his brother Cedric (drums) and Tom Pickering (qv.). He took up trumpet and they formed the Barrelhouse Jazz Band with pianist Rex Green. After Army war service the group resumed playing (1946). He moved to Melbourne, studied at the conservatorium, became a member of the jazz scene and swapped trumpet for trombone. He worked with the Tony Newstead and the Graeme Bell bands as needed and recorded with the Bells in 1948. To the UK with Don Banks (1950), worked with Mick Mulligan and others, returned to Hobart (1955), reunited with Tom Pickering and co-led the Pearce-Pickering band (1956-mid 90s). During this period he was involved with numerous AJC and other jazz committees, became a mentor to young musicians and recorded regularly. He is still musically active on the Australian jazz scene.