'Gentleman'John Bunch

[Mark Fox]

'Gentleman'John Bunch passed away in Manhattan on April 1st aged 88.
A wonderful pianist who played for Tony Bennett as M.D/accompanist in the 70's.
R.I.P.

[Lena & Harry Smith]

Always sad to hear of these great musicians and musical directors who were part of that special era.
R.I.P. John Bunch.

[Marian]

Another sad loss for the music world. R.I.P. John Bunch.

[Mark Fox]

A friend in NYNY sent me this after he attended John's Memorial Service.

St. Peter's Church was the site of a star-studded
(in the jazz sense) memorial to John Bunch.
Jay Leonhart produced and hosted the celebration.
He did a wonderful job, keeping the proceedings
arms length from mawkishness and solemnity.
It was warm, sincere and gentlemanly, all befitting
the character of the gentleman who was being honored.

There was no formal program outside of a card with
John's picture and the dates 1921-2010 and handed
out by Mary Pizzarelli.

I did write down the program:

Marian McPartland - Jay Leonhart - IT'S EASY TO REMEMBER
Barry Harris - two original pieces
Barbara Carroll - NEVER LET ME GO
Bill Charlap - THE DUKE
Lee Lowenfish - spoken tribute
Tony Bennett, Lee Musiker, Jay, James Chirillo - WHO CARES?
Bucky and John Pizzarelli - BODY AND SOUL
Bucky, John, Harry Allen, Aaron Weinstein, Jay - STOMPIN' AT THE SAVOY
Derek Smith, Bob Kindred, Steve LaSpina, Dennis Mackrel - TENDERLY
Derek Smith - A NIGHTENGALE SANG IN BERKELEY SQUARE
Joe Wilder, Frank Wess, Jerry Bruno, Jerry Dodgion, Mike Longo - YESTERDAYS/YESTERDAY
I LOVE YOU (Porter)
Frank Wess, Mike Renzi, Joe Costello, Frank Tate - THE SUMMER KNOWS
Warren Vache, Chris Flory, Chuck Riggs, Ted Rosenthal, Harry Allen -
HOW COULD YOU DO A THING LIKE THAT TO ME?
Daryl Sherman - HEY JOHN
Ronny Whyte - CERTAIN PEOPLE
Mike Longo, Ray Moca - IREMEMBER YOU
Marlene VerPlanck, John Colliani, Robert Litvak - TAKING A CHANCE ON LOVE
John Colliani - FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE
Alex Leonard - BLOOD COUNT
Rossano Sportiello - blues

Tony paid tribute to John's humanity, telling a story that when
John was captured by German soldiers during World War II
and brought to a concentration camp, John gave his last
piece of food, a bit of bread to an inmate who was being
herded into a gas chamber. Tony said that right before
John received the same fate, the war was over.

Tony also credited John with the arrangement of WHO CARES?

[ROBERT M.]

Looks like you have the hang of copying and pasting now Mark ...........thanks for the warm post.

[Marian]

Thanks from me too Mark.

[Mark Fox]

A fitting tribute to this fine gentleman.
Thanks to Marian prompting me with the techno.