Bert Jansch RIP

[Blue2112]

Just heard that Bert Jansch one of my all time favourite acoustic guitarists has passed away after losing a battle with lung cancer. I count myself fortunate enough to have seen him play alongside John Renbourn with their band, The Pentangle, one of the leading bands from the British folk scene of the late 60's early 70's.

He received two Lifetime Achievement Awards at the BBC Folk Awards: one, in 2001, for his solo achievements and the other, in 2007, as a member of Pentangle. His work influenced such artists as Paul Simon, Jimmy Page, Nick Drake, Graham Coxon, Donovan, Neil Young and Devendra Banhart. Jansch went on to influence a later generation of guitar players. Bernard Butler states that Noel Gallagher, Jarvis Cocker, and Johnny Marr (as well as himself) have "paid homage to this quiet, unassuming, but hugely revered master". Further afield, the Japanese acoustic guitar player Tsuneo Imahori is known to have been heavily influenced by Jansch.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkX7Q2J7k48" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkX7Q2J7k48</a>

 

[KentBlue]

Never really a fan, but I've been aware of him and his influence on the folk genre for many many years.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Just seen this myself. Sad news. I'm just re-discovering the late-60's/early 70's folk stuff by artists like Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Pentangle, Incredible String Band and also American singers like Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin etc.

 

[el blue]

RIP Bert. 'Blackbird in the morning' is one of my favourite folk songs.

 

[Shands]

I had a Physics teacher called Miss Jansch. I was led to belive that she was Bert's daughter but I don't know if it was true or not, she could play the guitar mind you.

 

[Blue2112]

Just seen this myself. Sad news. I'm just re-discovering the late-60's/early 70's folk stuff by artists like Fairport Convention, Fotheringay, Pentangle, Incredible String Band and also American singers like Tim Buckley, Tim Hardin etc.

Love Tim Buckley and I have most of his original vinyl in my collection. As for Fairport Convention its a crime that Sandy Denny still to this day is largely ignored and her work has never publicly been given the recognition it fully deserves. I have two box sets of her and has there ever been a more beautiful voice from these shores. The only female ever to accompany Led Zeppelin with her backing vocals on 'Battle of Evermore'. They should have made her the fifth member of Zeppelin, what an addition that would have been. BTH next year we're finally going to take that trip to Bron-Y-Aur, I promise mate.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oBMDcLf6WA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oBMDcLf6WA</a>

I will be playing my own personal favourite piece of vinyl from The Pentangle this evening 'Cruel Sister' as my own tribute and with a toast to Jansch.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

Wow another of the big influences of my formative years gone.
DT obituary:

Bert Jansch, guitar wizard, dies aged 67 - Telegraph

Spokesman Mick Houghton said Jansch died early Wednesday morning after being in hospital for seven weeks. He was diagnosed with cancer more than two years ago. His final performance was at a reunion of Pentangle at London's Royal Festival Hall on 1st August, following solo performances earlier this year when he opened for Canadian singer Neil Young.

Born Herbert Jansch on 3 November 1943 in Glasgow - to a family originally from Hamburg - he is survived by his wife Loren. Jansch, a key figure in the folk revival in Britain in the 1960s and between 1967 and 1973, was part of acoustic group Pentangle. He received two Lifetime Achievement Awards at the BBC Folk Awards and in all he released 23 solo albums, the last of which, The Black Swan (2006), featured collaborations with Beth Orton and Devendra Banhart and contributions from his son Adam Jansch.

Young, with whom Jansch toured last year, said: "As much of a great guitar player as Jimi [Hendrix] was, Bert Jansch is the same thing for acoustic guitar . . . and my favourite."

Jansch once said that his debut album, called Bert Jansch, in 1965 was recorded on a reel-to-reel tape using "four borrowed guitars" because he didn't own his own guitar.

Jimmy Page said: "At one point, I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that first LP of his in 1965, I couldn’t believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that."

Former Smiths guitarists Johnny Marr said: “He completely re-invented guitar playing and set a standard that is still unequalled today - without Bert Jansch, rock music as it developed in the 1960s and 1970s would have been very different. You hear him in Nick Drake, Pete Townshend, Donovan, The Beatles, Jimmy Page and Neil Young. There are people playing guitar who don’t even realise they’ve been influenced by him one step removed."

Jansch was as proud of his songwriting skills as his guitar playing prowess, saying once: "I think I come under the singer/songwriter badge. I've always written songs right from the very beginning. Because of my style of playing people tend of me more of a guitar player than a singer sometimes. I'd always had an interest in guitar from about seven years old. But I first actually had lessons when I was about fifteen in Scotland, in Edinburgh. There was a folk club there and a girl called Jill Doyle taught me the guitar, who happened to be Davey Graham's sister. Davey Graham is one of my heroes and always has been. Fantastic guitar player. And he's had a strong influence on me all the way through."

He had a roaming spirit and lived in Belgium, Denmark, Norway, America and Wales at various stages of his life. After moving to London in the 1960s, he helped form Pentangle, the acoustic supergroup with John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee, Danny Thompson and Terry Cox. Pentangle split in 1973 but retained a loyal following and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2007 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, playing two songs – the first time the original band had played together in 35 years. A full UK tour for Pentangle followed in 2008, which was a triumphant reunion.

Scottish folk star Dick Gaughan said: “He revolutionised the guitar. I don’t think anybody has ever been revered as much as he is."

 

[blueandgreen]

Very sad news only heard Pentangle on Radio Eireann on sat morning on the way into work.The presenter said they were a great influence on REM.

 

[kronkonite]

all time great RIP

 

[wayne71]

I find it fascinating that a person can have so much talent yet most people have never heard of him and people with much less or no talent are world stars. Anyway RIP Bert.