Obit: RIP Bert Jansch (1943-2011)

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Singing Referee
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 11:42 AM

Like many here Bert was one of my early inspirations. Scot's Hoose Cambridge Circus is the venue I most associate with Bert in 65 or 66.

Never could emulate the style. Now I can see it clearly on You Tube rather than accross a smokey bar after too much to drink, I can see why!

That really is some band up there now!

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bert Jansch. 4 October 2011
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 11:40 AM

What a legacy he's left us. So sad to hear of his passing.

Allison {{{{Hugs}}}} hard to believe it's been eight years.

kat

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bert Jansch. 4 October 2011
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 11:39 AM

Bert Jansch on World Cafe, from NPR. (Interview and performance, from January 2011.)

A great loss.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Obit: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: voyager
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 11:26 AM

Pentangle - a bright star in the 60's Folk Music renaissance. Troubadour (LA, CA) performances 1969, early 70s - brilliant.

Bert Jansch - innovator, mega-talent, finger style virtuoso

God Speed
voyager

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 09:38 AM

Oh, my- another great one gone.

This is quite a death day- my dear one, Byron, died 8 years ago. Still a very bittersweet time. Now Bert has joined quite a choir- sing on, good man.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: scouse
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 09:28 AM

Sad news indeed RIP Bert.. Your with the rest of the gang now... Hamish,Alex.Iain, Danny and Derrol.. What a band of Angels.. I'll miss you.

As Aye,
Phil.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST,cookieless bloke
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:13 AM

oh my, oh my. I grew up, and grew old, loving Bert Jansch's music. I don't know what to write.
Lawrie

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:12 AM

I meant to day highlight the guitar part in "Needle of Death".
Back in the day, I worked out the guitar part in the key of G and then I used to capo it up to suit my voice.
I often wondered back then why I couldn't get some of those lovely "added notes" that Bert found.
Recently, I saw some tab for it, and it uses chords from the key of A.
Intially, I thought this was a mistake but when I played through it, all those lovely "missing" notes became available.
Another example of Bert's genius.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Eric the Viking
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:06 AM

Such sad news. Saw him many times on his own or wiuth John R and in Pentangle. Wish I had a millionth of his ability at playing.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:05 AM

Since hearing of Bert's death, I've been playing his first album, and it occured to be that his playing on that album is particularly American influenced on a number of tracks.
On "Needle of Death" and "Running from Home", foe example, is uses - what we called back then - "clawhammer style"; today, it seems to be called "pattern playing".
Now, Dylan, Phil Ochs, Joan Baez etc used this style but Bert elevates the style on to a much higher level.
The lovely touches that he adds to the guitar part of "Running from Home" are just marvelous.
He certainly was very special.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Rob Naylor
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 08:03 AM

A sad loss...a big inspiration to me, though even 20,000 hours of dedicated practice wouldn't get me within miles of his skill and flair.

Really sad that I left it too late to get tickets to the last "Proper Pentangle" gig in early August.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Musket
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:53 AM

I was playing an album of his the other week when my son came round. He asked if I had seen him, and I said that not only have I seen him and learned so much from him, he also taught me the art of drinking as a cure for a hangover.

I suppose we can all be grateful that this particular supernova carried on shining bright for such a long time.

RIP Bert

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:36 AM

Very sad news, another great musician gone.
RIP Bert.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Ron Cheevers
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:28 AM

So long Bert, and thanks.

Ron.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST,JohnnyBeezer
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 07:05 AM

What can you say? Another hero gone.
You made the 60's a real pleasure for me and all my friends Bert.
we tried to play like you but for some reason couldn't quite get there. Might that be because you were the master I wonder?

Much missed.
RIP Bert

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:56 AM

So sorry to hear this sad news; a great loss.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Lox
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:53 AM

Consummate musician.

Great man.

Very individual and determined in a world that seemed to be doing its best to eclipse him and his ilk.

Thanks Bert!! RIP

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:49 AM

Here's an Obit.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Wesley S
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:42 AM

What an influence on all of us who've picked up a guitar.

Thanks Burt.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Phil Edwards
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:42 AM

Maybe this is a bit like saying that Picasso could also cook, but Bert Jansch was always an inspiration to me as a singer. Part of it was the richness and character of his voice (particularly when he was younger), and the sense of intimacy that's created by his close-miked recording style - a folk Chet Baker. But there's a lot more to it than that. Listening to him singing Sally Free and Easy (in 1993) or Blackwaterside (much earlier), the casual delivery and lazy syncopation are only superficial: the pitching and timing were rock-solid & he clearly knew the songs he was singing from the inside out. It's as if the guitar part is an improvisation around the melody, but when he sings the melody he does it as an improvisation over the guitar part.

This (music starts at 0:50) isn't his best work, but it's resonant this morning. Wherever I've been and gone... RIP.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: bubblyrat
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:35 AM

Regret I never saw him "live " ,although he was such a well-known figure back in the '60s , along with Renbourn (whom I did ) et al. I believe he always used Yamaha guitars ; is that so ? RIP Mr Jansch.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:29 AM

A truly inspirational musician. Never afraid to take risks, he took guitar playing to new levels.

And a highly gifted song-writer.

Bert was the reason I started playing guitar, for which I will be forever grateful.

RIP Bert - and thanks for everything.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 06:16 AM

Very sad. I saw him in a pub in London, rather the worse for wear but playing well, in 1969 and again some 40 years later, playing even better and obviously more sober, now only the recordings remain.
RIP.

RtS

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: evansakes
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:53 AM

RIP Bert.

How many guitarists out there could play like this?

Moonshine (with Ralph McTell)

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:38 AM

Last night I saw Ralph McTell in concert at Wimborne. Ralph mentioned from the stage that Bert was ill and prior to the concert and after - the blue album was playing. It sounded so good. Strlling Down the Highway, Kasbah, Angie.... on the house system.

Last night Ralph sang a beautiful song in tribute to Bert and Anne Briggs.

Met BJ a few times. He had everything...the natural ability, the vision, the imagination. Quiet and unassuming for such a great talent.

Roger Brooks used to say when you jam with Bert at some point - he just goes into another gear and seems to have thoughts and ideas that you just can't follow - the thing to do is let him soar.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Nigel Paterson
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:19 AM

I remember his many appearances at Chelmsford Folk Club back in the mid 60s...enthralling, captivating are words that come to mind. Listening to Bert singing 'Needle of Death'...one of those 'hair on the back of the neck' moments. When he played I always watched his hands as closely as I could, just to try & figure out how he created those stunning accompaniments. Never got close! One of a kind...a huge loss to our musical life.
                                                                                                Nigel.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:10 AM

Bert was so good, and back in the 60s his music meant so much to me.
That first album was terrific.
There was a marvelous inventiveness about his playing.
I don't return to many of my 60s folk albums but Bert's albums still thrill me.
Bert must have had a wonderful ear because, back then, he was always spot on with his tuning - unlike a lot of other folkies.
A great, great talent.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: fat B****rd
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:10 AM

The first 'folk-blues' player I ever heard. I saw him at the Sunderland Empire in 1976. A wonderful player and a huge influence.
RIP Bert. Dazzling Stranger indeed.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: banksie
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 05:02 AM

Indeed sad news. I first saw him at The Blacksmith's Arms in St Albans in 1964(sh). Definitely one of those moments when phrases such as `bloody hell' and `stone me' were very appropriate. Very much one of my early influences, including learning to cope with realising I was unklikely to be ever able to play like him. But he was the first player I saw to show what was possible with a guitar, and in my own way I have happily tried to follow his lead - albeit from a safe and increasing distance.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: theleveller
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:53 AM

Tha5's really sad - he was a great inspiration from way back in the mid-60s. I too remember him at the Cousins, and later at the 12 Bar Club. RIP, Bert and thanks for all the pleasure.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:49 AM

I didn't know him well, but had bumped into him a few times over the years. A great loss.

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: nager
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:45 AM

A great inspiration to so many of us. RIP Bert.

Paul

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: David C. Carter
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:39 AM

This is terrible news!
So many fond memories of listening,cajoling him to get up and play!
Buying him pints etc.
I'm lost for words!
RIP Bert.

David

Subject: RE: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Will Fly
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:37 AM

Well, well, another good man gone.

I recall seeing him and John Renbourn, drinking pints of Youngers Scotch Bitter in the "Pillars of Hercules" in Greek Street, prior to dropping in to the "Cousins" for the all-nighters.

Hugely influential in his day. RIP Bert.

Subject: RIP Bert Jansch.
From: Folkiedave
Date: 05 Oct 11 - 04:34 AM

Mike Harding posted on Facebook that Bert Jansch passed away last night after a losing battle with cancer.