[Dixielandjazz] Vale Graham Coyle

[Bill Haesler]

Dear Friends,
Sadly, I report the loss last Sunday of another dear mate, jazz colleague and one of Australia's foremost jazz pianists, Graham Coyle.
Graham was a gentle man, loved by all, who devoted his life to his family and jazz music. 
A friend to us all and a mentor to countless young musicians. 
The following brief biography was compiled by me for the Len Barnard book, "Jottings of a Jazzman":

Coyle, Graham: (b. Melbourne, Vic 10 August 1932 - d. Melbourne, Vic. 17 November 2013.) piano. 
Classically trained, Graham worked with a dance band in the late 1940s, discovered jazz, joined Martin Finn’s Black Bottom Stompers and worked casual jobs. Moved to Shepparton, Vic (1951-53) and played with the Goulburn Valley Jazz Band. On his return to Melbourne he joined Len Barnard’s Jazz Band (1953-55). He was a founder member of the Melbourne Jazz Club Band (1958-65), with Frank Traynor (1961-67), Max Collie (1958), Alan Lee (1959-61) and Kenn Jones (1958-63). To Canberra ACT (1969) and played with the Fortified Few, Mood Indigo and as a soloist at the Press Club (1976-81). Returned to Melbourne (1980), joined the Storyville Jazzmen and went to the UK and Europe with Bob Barnard’s Jazz Band (1980). Worked with Kenn Jones (1984) and Swing Shift (1985). Left the Public Service in 1987, became a professional musician and worked long residencies with Khyatt’s Khortet and Hotter Than Six (which became the Fireworks Jazz Band) and made annual trips with it to the US, Europe and Japan. Freelanced widely and as a soloist and retired, reluctantly, in 2005.    Bill Haesler OAM.

Very kind regards,
Bill.