The Kirchin Band, later known as the Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band, was a British band that recorded for the Parlophone and Decca labels during the 1950s. It was led by both Ivor Kirchin and his son Basil Kirchin.

Background The beginnings of the band can be traced to when they were the resident band at Fountainbridge Palais in Edinburgh in September 1952. The band had eleven members. This included four trumpets, four saxes, piano, bass, and drums. The lineup then was George Bradley, Dennis Roberts, Trevor Lanigan, Frank Mowatt on trumpets, Geoff Taylor on alto sax, Johnny Marshall and John Xerri, both on tenor sax, Alex Leslie on bass, Harry South on piano, Don Percival on bass, Basil Kirchin on drums, and Ivor Kirchin, musical director, on vocals. They stayed there until November 1953 and then they became a resident band in Northern Ireland.British Bebop - Kirchin Band - Dance halls and the BBC...

The group enjoyed popularity during the 1950s. They also toured with Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine. National Jazz Archive - Basil Kirchin (1927–2005) According to Pop Matters, with the popularity of the percussive Latin-flavor that the band had evolved, Sarah Vaughan and Billy Eckstine wouldn't tour England unless the band was backing them.Pop Matters, 13 April 2011 - BASIL KIRCHIN: PRIMITIVE LONDON By D.M. Edwards

Singers Rory Blackwell and Dean Webb sang with the band during the early parts of their careers.Record Mail, Vol. 2. No. 5 May 1959 - Page 8 Just FOR THE RECORD By John Castle, NO AUDITION

Career Their singles, "Mambo Macoco" b/w "Tangerine" (Parlophone R. 3958), "Panambo" b/w "Tango Mambo" (Parlophone R.3968), and an EP, Minor Mambo", "Mother Goose Jumps" / "Mambo Nothing", "Lover Come Back to Me" (Decca DFE 6237), were reviewed by Mike Butcher in the Friday, January 21, 1955 issue of New Musical Express. Due to the space inhibition of the magazine, he couldn't give a review of all the songs. In his positive review, he did point out the quality of the recordings and the impact of the music. He also mentioned that trumpeter Bobby Pratt had guested on a couple of recordings but the lead trumpeter on the others was Murray Campbell.New Musical Express, Friday, January 21, 1955 - Page 8 MODERN MOOD by MIKE BUTCHER

On Friday, January 28, 1955, the band was appearing at the Trocadero Ballroom in Derby, on Saturday, they were at the Baths Hall in Manchester, then on Sunday at the Rialto in York, then on the following Thursday at the Regal Ballroom in Beverley.New Musical Express, Friday, January 28, 1955 - Page 12 BAND CALL, Week beginning January 28, THE KIRCHIN BAND

In 1956, as The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band, they released the Biggest Little Band in the World EP on Parlophone GEP 8569. It included the songs, "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie", "Stone Age Mambo", "Down Under" and "Trumpet Blues and Cantabile".Popsike - IVOR AND BASIL KIRCHIN BAND EP:1956 PARLOPHONE INCLUDES:"ROCK A BEATIN' BOOGIE"

Due to Ivor Kirchin wanting to pursue different things, the band broke up some time around June 1957.British Bebop - Kirchin Band - Dance halls and the BBC..., June 30th, 1957 In the Melody Maker July 6, 1957 article, "Entertain or die, Says Basil Kirchin", Basil said that he and his father had discontinued the band because they couldn't see a future in big band jazz.Melody Maker, July 6, 1957 - Page 7 Entertain or die, Says Basil Kirchin

After the breakup there was apparently a new version of the band that performed at venues for a period of time. The New Kirchin Band played gigs on 14 September 1957, 23 November 1957, 22 February 1958, and 26 April 1958, the last three being billed as the Basil Kirchin Band.British Bebop - Kirchin Band - Dance halls and the BBC..., June 30th, 1957

Later years Their version of "Tweedlee Dee", originally released on Parlophone R 4010 in April 1955, appeared on the British Rock 'N' Roll - Volume Two compilation that was released on Reel To Reel RTRCD 049 in November 2018.hitparade.ch - The Kirchin Band – Tweedlee Dee

The Basil Kirchin Band

Background The Basil Kirchin Band was a musical ensemble led by Basil Kirchin following the breakup of The Kirchin Band.British Bebop - Kirchin Band - Dance halls and the BBC..., June 30th, 1957

Career Billed as The New Basil Kirchin Band, they appeared at the Savoy Ballroom on August 23, 1957.History in Portsmouth - THE COOPER ALLEN MUSIC ARCHIVE, The Music of Portsmouth in 1957, August 23rd 1957 Now called The Basil Kirchin Band, they appeared with The Moonbeams at the Savoy Ballroom on December 20, 1957.History in Portsmouth - THE COOPER ALLEN MUSIC ARCHIVE, The Music of Portsmouth in 1957, December 20th 1957

In February 1958, the Basil Kirchin Band with Rory Blackwell appeared at the Baths Hall in Streatham on a Friday and the Corn Exchange on a Saturday.Melody Maker, February 8, 1958 - Page 8 • Call SHEET • , Basil KIRCHIN Band with Rory Blackwell It was reported by The Cash Box in its 29 March 1958 issue that The Basil Kirchin Band was to fly to the US on April 30 for a three-week tour of military bases.Cash Box, March 29, 1958 - Page 28 London Lowdown

Along with Marvin Rainwater, Johnny Duncan & the Bluegrass Boys, Phil Fernando and Dickie Dawson, The Basil Kirchin Band was booked to appear at the London Coliseum on Sunday, April 20, 1958.Melody Maker, April 19, 1958 - Page 9 LONDON COLISEUM, SUNDAY, 20th APRIL, at 7.30 p, m.

Along with Lita Rosa, The Dallas Boys, Lonnie Donegan, Ken Mackintosh and his band, The Basil Kirchin band appeared on the televised Six-Five Special. The show, which was compered by Jim Dale, was broadcast on Saturday, 16 August.Manx Music, 6 July 2023 - Page 54 Summer Entertainment on the Isle of Man Ronnie, Ivy, Ken and Phil, but no Joe by Maurice Powel, Tight jeans and ‘sloppy joes’ at the Villa

With their successful tour in the US behind them, the Basil Kirchin band was playing at the Gaiety Theatre for the morning coffee dances at 10:45 and 7:30 evening dances. They also played a carnival and Wednesday evening late night carnival, and Sunday Variety Concerts with guests such as Walter Niblo and Peter Cavanagh.Manx Music, 6 July 2023 - Page 62 Summer Entertainment on the Isle of Man Ronnie, Ivy, Ken and Phil, but no Joe by Maurice Powel, The smaller venues

Discography + Singles Act Release Catalogue Year Notes The Basil Kirchin Band "White Silver Sands" / "Waiting For The Robert E. Lee" Parlophone A7962 1957 45Cat - Basil Kirchin - Discography, Uk, White Silver SandsInternet Archive - WHITE SILVER SANDS Basil Kirchin Band "Rock-A-Conga" / "Skin Tight" Parlophone R 4527 1959 45Cat - Basil Kirchin - Discography, Uk, Rock-A-CongaPopsike - BASIL KIRCHIN BAND 'SKIN TIGHT/ROCK-A-CONGA' TOP RARE UK JAZZ PARLOPHONE DEMO 45

References

External links Discogs - The Kirchin Band