Clarinetist and saxophonist John Defferary, a fixture of the British trad jazz revival for over six decades, died on July 10; he was 85. Born March 27, 1941, Defferary cut his teeth in New Orleans-style outfits early, playing with the New Teao Brass Band and “Uncle” John Renshaw’s Band before joining Keith Smith’s Climax Jazz Band in 1962 for a three-year run. He led his own Creole Jazz Band from 1966 to 1967 and played in John Keen’s New Orleans Band in 1968, by which point he’d added tenor sax alongside clarinet, working with Mike Casimir’s Paragon Brass Band into the early 1970s. He also spent time in Barry “Kid” Martyn’s Eagle Brass Band, appearing on tenor sax alongside trombonist Louis Nelson.
The early 1970s brought Defferary into close contact with New Orleans jazz royalty: he worked with Barry Martyn, pianist Pat Hawes, and historian-trumpeter John Chilton, and occasionally subbed for Ken Colyer. In 1973 he joined drummer Trevor Richards’s New Orleans Trio, touring internationally including extended U.S. stretches, and from 1981 to 1984 co-led “Super Jazz” with Bob Barton, touring alongside American veterans Louis Nelson, Alton Purnell, and Freddy Kohlman.
In the mid-1980s Defferary moved to Denmark to join Papa Bue’s Viking Jazz Band, learning Danish and staying roughly twelve years. In 1998 he took the clarinet chair in the Chris Barber Band, replacing Ian Wheeler, and remained there for more than 25 years, often stepping into the Monty Sunshine role for the band’s re-creations of its classic six-piece lineup.
Joe Bebco is the Associate Editor of The Syncopated Times and Webmaster of SyncopatedTimes.com
