MJF: John Helliwell’s Super Big Tramp Band

Join Manchester Jazz Festival for what will be a memorable night, in the company of the great John Helliwell, his classy, distinctive, cool saxophone playing and famously dry wit, a stunning big band and the unforgettable music of this legendary supergroup – possibly for the last time, as the eternally-young John celebrates his 80th year.

John became interested in the clarinet at age 13, closely followed by the saxophone. After a spell as a computer programmer, he turned professional, playing with various bands in the ‘60s. He was asked to join Supertramp in 1973. After making the album Crime of the Century, they began their long climb to international success, moving to California in the process. Breakfast in America was the biggest selling album in the world in 1979!

During a Supertramp hiatus in the ’90s, he moved back to England to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. John now plays music based on his many inspirations, including jazz, funk, blues, soul and rock. He has several jazz projects: Crème Anglaise, Ever Open Door (sextet with strings and Hammond organ) Don’t Ever Leave Me (a Dutch quartet) and a quartet with Pat Metheny drummer Paul Wertico, The Bari Session.

The genesis of the Super Big Tramp Band was at the RNCM in 2013, when Mike Hall, then the Director of Jazz Studies, persuaded several colleagues to create instrumental arrangements of Supertramp tunes for a concert with John and the student big band. A few years later, John formed the band again with Rob Buckland as director, and this time with professional players; concerts followed and an album was recorded in 2021 at The Stoller Hall, released this year: John Helliwell’s Super Big Tramp Band.

John Helliwell, Rob Buckland, Amy Roberts, Mike Hall, Andy Scott, Carl Raven saxophones
Carol Jarvis, TBC trombones
Russell Bennett, Richard Iles, TBC trumpets
Josh Savage percussion
Paul Kilvington piano
Ollie Collins bass
Steve Gilbert drums
Billy Buckley guitar

Rob Buckland director