Jack was a member of the MU for 70 years.
Born on 28 March 1932, Jack initially played the euphonium in the 2nd Essex Boys' Brigade Band, earning several prizes and even performing at the Royal Albert Hall, as well as being broadcast by the BBC. He later played in the RAF Regiment Band, stationed at RAF Marham, while completing his National Service.
He transferred to the trombone around the time of his teenage discovery of jazz music. His first exposure to the genre was a recording of Royal Garden Blues on an imported 78 rpm record. By 1956, when he joined the Musicians' Union, he had become proficient enough to share a stage with Louis Armstrong.
He progressed from local bands, playing alongside friends such as Dave Jones on reeds and trumpeter Johnny Rowden, before joining the Harry Walton Band. This band had connections with Lord Donegall, who staged debutante balls, live broadcasts and often hosted visiting American stars, leading to Jack's performances with the great Satchmo.
Jack later followed another friend, Dave Shepherd, into the Freddie Randall Band and thereafter became a popular local pick-up musician, frequently 'depping' for the likes of Roy Williams and Campbell Burnap, often with the Pizza Express All-Stars, and also performing with the Joe Loss Ambassadors Band.
A bandleader and mentor
In the 1970s, he formed his own band, the Herts and Essex All-Stars, later known as the Jackie Free Chicagoans, which recorded several CDs and featured a rotating line-up of top-level musicians. Jack was also proud to have given many younger musicians valuable early experience and stage time, and a number of them remain active on the jazz scene today.
Most notable among these was Martin Taylor, the son of bass-playing friend Buck Taylor. Jack sponsored Martin's membership of the Musicians' Union, enabling him to perform on transatlantic passenger ships, which led to his recognition in the United States and ultimately to worldwide acclaim.
In the 1980s, Jack also began playing in the bands of local jazz drummer and promoter Jon Petters, sharing the stage and recording with many of his musical heroes, including Wild Bill Davison, Billy Butterfield, Yank Lawson, Art Hodes and Kenny Davern, at events organised by Jon.
A lifetime in jazz
Although he suffered a heart attack at the age of 55, Jack recovered and continued gigging until the age of 88, when Covid restrictions curtailed all live gigging. Unfortunately, he was unable to return to the scene when those restrictions were lifted, and he died on 26 July 2026 at the age of 94.
His funeral was attended by several of his most recent fellow band members, led by Peter Rudeforth on trumpet. The boys did him proud, and Jack was always proud to speak of his long-standing honorary membership of the Musicians' Union.
An interview with Jack describing his career, conducted by the National Jazz Archive (which also arranged for the erection of a blue plaque at his birthplace in Leyton), is available to read online. The Sandy Brown Jazz website also features a career profile for further information.
Jack originally joined the MU in 1956. This tribute has been written by his son, Colin.