Ivor Kirchin

Ivor Kirchin (born Isaac Kochinsky; 21 January 1905 – 22 January 1997) was a British band leader, and the father of noted composer Basil Kirchin (1927–2005).

History Born in London, The Kirchin Band performed on the Mecca ballroom circuit during the Second World War. By 1955 the band was now recognised as a swing/jazz type band and they were on a Swing Session broadcast on the BBC Light Programme. The show was shared with others and the Kirchin Band played three arrangements by Jimmy Deuchar: "Flying Hickory," "Lester Leaps In" and "Swing Session" and a vocal from Johnny Grant.

In December, 1957, Dean Webb joined the band as its vocalist, replacing Rory Blackwell who was leaving to pursue a solo career. Blackwell had said that Webb was a good beat singer which got him in. Webb stayed with the ensemble for a year and then later in 1959 went solo, recording for the Parlophone label.

At the close of the decade music trends began to move away from big bands toward smaller jazz combos, and soon rock & roll appeared. The Kirchin Band made some attempts to stay relevant with novelty cha-cha and rock and roll numbers, but the end was clearly in sight. By 1967, Ivor Kirchin retired the band, 1955 - "Lester Leaps The Mambo" / "Lanigiro" - The Kirchin Band (Ivor and Basil) (Parlophone R-3985 GEP 8522) 1955 - "Bandbox" / "Tweedle Dee" / "(Oh, Baby) Beedleumbo" / "Mambo Rock" - The Kirchin Band (Ivor and Basil) (Parlophone R-4018 GEP 8531) 1955 - "Two Hearts, Two Kisses" / "Dance With Me Henry" - Jean Campbell with The Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4026) 1955 - "Gotta Be This or That" / "The Great Lie" / "Flying Hickory" / "Comb and Paper Blues" - The Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4039) 1956 - "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" / "Stone Age Mambo" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4140) 1956 - "Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie" / "Stone Age Mambo" / "Down Under" / "Trumpet Blues and Cantabile" (Parlophone GEP8569) 1956 - "Sing, Sing, Sing" / "Big City Blues" / "Lover Man" / "Big Deal" / "Pour Quoi" / "Taboo" - The Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4192) 1956 - "The Roller" / "St. Louis Blues" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4222) 1956 - "Ambush" / "Rockin' and Rollin' Through The Darktown Strutters' Ball" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4237) 1957 - "Rock Around The World" / "Rock Around The World" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4266) 1957 - "Jungle Fire Dance" / "Calypso!!" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4284) 1957 - "The High Life" / "Blues and Happy Times" - The Ivor and Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4302) 1957 - "Teenage World" / "So Rare" - The Kirchin Band and The Bandits (Parlophone R-4335) 1957 - "White Silver Sands" / "Waiting for the Robert E. Lee" - The Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4344) 1958 - "Cha Cha Bells" / "Oh Dear What Can The Cha Cha Be" - Basil Kirchin's Rock-A-Cha Cha Band (Parlophone R-4511) 1959 - "Rock-A-Conga" / "Skin Tight" - The Basil Kirchin Band (Parlophone R-4527) 1960 - "Caravan" / "Night and Day" - Johnny Byrell with Basil Kirchin's Big 7 (Rex RS-020)

Albums 2010 - Gotta Be This or That: The EMI Singles Compilation 1954-56 - The Kirchin Band

Personnel Murray Campbell, Frank Donlan, Stan Palmer, Norman Baron, Bobby Pratt (tp), Brian Haden (as), Norman Hunt, John Xerri, (ts), George Robinson (bs), Johnny Patrick (p), Ronnie Seabrook (b), Basil Kirchin (d), Johnny Grant (vcl), Ivor Kirchin (dir). Tracks: "Mambo Nothing" / "Minor Mambo" / "Lover Come Back To Me" (vcl Johnny Grant) / "Mother Goose Jumps" (vcl Johnny Grant).

Trevor Lanigan, Frank Donlan, Norman Baron, George Bradley (tp), Brian Haden (as), Alan Rowe, Harry Perry (ts), George Robinson (bs), Johnny Patrick (p), Ashley Kozak (b), Basil Kirchin (d), Johnny Grant (vcl), Ivor Kirchin (dir). Tracks: "Trumpet Blues And Cantabile" / "Stoneage Mambo"

Personnel change

On December 22., 1955, the Kirchins recorded 'Rock A Beatin' Boogie', and, 'Down Under', released on (Parlophone R4140). Keith Barr replaced Alan Rowe on tenor saxophone, with Clyde Ray on vocal.

In film The whole band performed "Jungle Fire Dance" for a 1957, 2' 34" British Pathé short film. The film's identification number is 209.23.

The Ivor Kirchen Band featured in the film, Spring In Park Lane 1948, at the Lyceum Dance Hall London scene playing The Sheik Of Araby. Danced to by Anna Negal and Michael Wielding.