[Tradjazz] Norman Burbank

[Bruce McNichols]

Today I got this message from Chris Burbank, Norman's son.


      To: muskrat at bestweb.net  
      Subject: Re: Norman  
      Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2008 10:27:36 -0500  
      From: burb316 at aol.com   
     
Bruce,
  would you be able to post this on the Jazz website and send it to any 
and all people that might have known my father.
Thanks
Chris

To every person that knew "Stormin'" Norman Burbank,
     My mother and I would like to publically thank everyone that has 
came to the funeral or has sent a sympathy card or has donated some 
money to us and/or the Diabetes foundation.  I can't express the amount 
of happiness I have had recently knowing that he made a difference in 
the lives of so many people around this area and the joy that he 
brought to all of you.  Again, I thank you all so much for the kind 
words and amazing stories some have told.  As most of your probably 
know, I am also a tuba player.  When I was growing up, I didn't want to 
be like him at all.  I was actually a euphonium player in elementary 
and middle school and was forced to play tuba my freshman year.  Dad 
never gave me a lesson.  I was just too stubborn in my teenage years to 
realize the wealth of musical knowledge he had.  There hasn't been a 
day go by in the past two months that I wish I would have just sat down 
with him and listen to records like he wanted me to do.  If anyone has 
a recording of  him playing at all, could you please send me a copy if 
it is all possible.  I only have a two recordings of him, and when I 
have my family, I want them to know how great he really was.  My 
address is listed below.  You can also email me at burb316 at aol.com
Thanks again for everything you have all said.  It is an honor to know 
all of you.
In music
Chris Burbank
233 Ship Ave
Beachwood, NJ 08722
 


I replied with this message: 

Chris,

Sorry to say (considering all the hours Norm and I spent together on the banstand), I have no recordings of him.  One of Norm's classic (and poignant) lines was, (after we finished a really good performance of a tune) "Well, that's lost forever - we didn't record it."  Somehow, we should be able to record everything we ever play.

McN