John Bunch

Born and raised in Tipton, Indiana,[3] a small farming community, Bunch studied piano with George Johnson, a Hoosier jazz pianist. By the age of 14, he was already playing with adult bands in central Indiana.

During World War II, he enlisted in the Army Air Forces and became a bombardier on a B17 Flying Fortress.[3] He and his ten-man crew were transferred to combat duty in England, flying bombing missions over Germany. His plane was shot down on November 2, 1944, and Bunch was taken prisoner.[3] In the prison camp, he learned to arrange for big bands.

After the war, he applied for university training as a music major, but was refused because he could not sight read classical music.[3] He worked later in factories and insurance. In 1956, he moved to Los Angeles where he immediately was accepted by jazz musicians such as Georgie Auld and Jimmie Rowles, who later recommended him to Woody Herman.[3] He settled in New York in 1958, where he joined Eddie Condon and Maynard Ferguson.[3] He recorded with Ferguson and many smaller groups.

In 1966, Bunch joined Tony Bennett as pianist and musical director, and stayed with the singer until 1972.[3] During that time he appeared on Bennett's 1972 series for Thames Television, Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town. After that, he resumed his jazz work, performing and recording with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Pearl Bailey, and Scott Hamilton.[3] He led a trio, mostly in England, and made many recordings as a leader, such as with the New York Swing Trio with Bucky Pizzarelli and Jay Leonhart.

Bunch remained active in Europe and the United States during his final years. He died of melanoma in Roosevelt Hospital, Manhattan, New York City, on March 30, 2010. He was survived by his wife, Cecily "Chips" Gemmell, a former private secretary to Winston Churchill.[4]

• John Bunch discography at Discogs