Big Joe Burrell's Saxophones Return to Vermont

Big Joe Burrell, seated at Nectar’s. Photo by Matthew Thorsen, from the ‘Sound Proof’ exhibit at the Tiny Museum of Vermont Music History. Download a high resolution image.

BURLINGTON, VT August 30, 2021: The saxophones of Big Joe Burrell have returned to Vermont via the state’s volunteer-run independent music office, Big Heavy World. Three instruments belonging to beloved bluesman Big Joe Burrell can now call Vermont their permanent home, thanks to generous donors.

Big Joe Burrell passed away in 2005 after a lengthy career in music (see below) of which almost thirty years were lived in Burlington. Three of his instruments traveled to Florida with his nephew, Dr. Leon Burrell: A 1974 Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone; a 1942 King Zephyr alto saxophone; and an Evette soprano saxophone. The Selmer and King instruments have “Big Joe Burrell” engraved on the inside of their flared bells (the ‘horn-shaped’ part of the instrument). The Selmer tenor saxophone was one of the last production Mark VI instruments made; it was assembled in Elkhart, Indiana.

Conservator Jonathan Ranney of Ellis Music in Bethel, Vermont, displays Big Joe Burrell’s cleaned Selmer Mark VI on the armature he handcrafted. Download a high resolution image.

Through generous gifts of Todd R. Lockwood and Burlington’s Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office as well as the kindness of Big Joe’s nephew Dr. Leon Burrell, the instruments were purchased to become public cultural treasures in Vermont. Lockwood said, “Bringing Big Joe Burrell’s saxophone back to Burlington is something that just had to happen. I’m honored to help make this possible.” The smaller engraved alto saxophone will travel to Vermont historical societies and public and school libraries in 2022, when a mobile exhibit is created.

All three instruments were cleaned for conservation by Jonathan Ranney at Ellis Music Co. in Bethel where he manufactured a brass armature to display the tenor saxophone, the largest of the three. A museum stand was donated by the Vermont Folklife Center and an acrylic vitrine was manufactured by Vermont Plastics in Williston to protect the Selmer instrument. It will be exhibited at the new Tiny Museum of Vermont Music History inside Big Heavy World at 4 Howard Street, #A-8, in Burlington. The opening event for the tiny museum is Friday, September 10, 5-10pm and Saturday, September 11 during the South End Art Hop, 10am-10pm. Following this event, the museum will be open to the public from 6-8pm Wednesday nights until docents are scheduled to expand public hours.

The following is edited from Big Joe’s Burlington Free Press obituary, February 6, 2005: “Big Joe was born during the big band era, February 9, 1924, in Port Huron, Michigan. His interest in music began in the 1930s after hearing big bands like Count Basie and Jimmie Lunceford. Joe served three years in the Army playing with the Harlem and Cadence Army Show Band throughout Italy, North Africa and the Philippines. When he returned to civilian life, he honed his techniques in Detroit and Toledo clubs. Joe later joined the B.B. King Orchestra. An encounter with Count Basie led to a gig in the Count’s Club in New York City. Joe formed his own band ‘The Burning Flames’ and played back-up to The Miller Sisters for several years. He moved on to Toronto, Canada, joining ‘The Hot Toddies,’ led by Big John Little. During the rock’n’roll era, they traveled and entertained all over the eastern provinces. Offered a gig with the Charlie Duncan Organ Trio playing in Burlington, Joe returned to the states. In 1976, he learned that his nephew lived in Burlington and decided to stay. He played with a popular local band ‘Just Jazz.’ Eventually, he and Paul Asbell (the leader of Kilimanjaro), formed ‘The Unknown Blues Band: featuring Big Joe Burrell,’ becoming one of the premier bands in Vermont until officially disbanding in 2002. Big Joe Burrell died peacefully at age 80, February 2, 2005.”

The mouthpiece of Big Joe Burrell’s Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone. Download a high resolution image.

Reuben Jackson — a poet, music historian and radio personality — will produce expanded written and audio interpretive materials to accompany the permanent and mobile exhibits within the year.

Many individuals aided in the fundraising, communications or logistics that led to the accession of the instruments; Big Heavy World sends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Leon Burrell; Todd R. Lockwood; Tyeastia Green; Chuck Eller; Sandy Combs; Katie Riegelman; Toni Trombley; Seth Trombley; and the staff of Ellis Music. Eller said, "“The members of The Unknown Blues Band are thrilled that the saxophones belonging to our longtime bandmate, Big Joe Burrell, have been purchased so that they can be preserved and allow others to enjoy them for years to come. We send our gratitude to Todd R. Lockwood and the Racial Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Office for their amazing generosity, and we thank Jim Lockridge for being the driving force that made this happen.”

James Lockridge, Big Heavy World Executive Director, said, “Having these instruments in view reminds us of how crucial it is to experience music as it happens, and to cherish our music makers while they’re with us. The instruments are only shadows of the great joy many experienced when seeing Big Joe perform in person. But to share these instruments and his story is to share some of that joy, and this sharing can go on in Vermont forever now.”

Big Heavy World is an independent nonprofit music development office established to archive and promote the original music of Vermont. With a crew of volunteers it publishes information about Vermont’s music industry, archives thousands of Vermont-made recordings, photographs and artifacts, and operates 105.9FM, a radio station highlighting the region’s creative community. It hosts the weekly ‘Rocket Shop’ local music radio hour and podcast that has featured ~700 Vermont-based artists. In 2020 Big Heavy World was recognized as ‘Best Global Music Office’ by an international Music Cities jury. The organization is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021. For more, visit bigheavyworld.com.

Differentiation aid: Todd R. Lockwood and James Lockridge have similar last names; each provide a quote in this release.