John Anthony Helliwell - A short biography – 2024

John became interested at age 13 in the clarinet, closely followed by the saxophone. After a spell as a computer programmer he turned professional, playing with various bands in the 60s. He was asked to join Supertramp in 1973. They made the album “Crime of the Century” and began the long climb to international success, moving to California in the process.

“Breakfast in America” was the biggest selling album in the world in 1979! During a Supertramp hiatus in the nineties, he moved back to England to study at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. John now plays music based on his many inspirations - including jazz, funk, blues, soul and rock.

He has a jazz group - “Crème Anglaise,” “The Super Big Tramp Band” - an 18 piece big band playing the music of Supertramp instrumentally, “Ever Open Door” - a sextet playing ballads with a string quartet and Hammond organ, “Don’t Ever Leave Me” - a quartet with major Dutch jazz players, and a quartet with the drummer Paul Wertico - “The BariSession”

The Super Big Tramp Band

The idea of a big band playing the music of Supertramp, and featuring John as chief soloist, was formed as a project by Mike Hall, then director of jazz studies, at The Royal Northern College Of Music in Manchester UK in 2013.

The resulting concert, with the student band, was successful. In the next few years, Rob Buckland, now professor of saxophone at The RNCM, constantly encouraged John to carry on the idea using professional musicians - eventually John did, starting with several concerts and following up with recording the band in 2021.

Rob is now the band leader. The arrangements of the Supertramp tunes are by members of the band. The recording was made at The Stoller Hall, Manchester, in July 2021.

The musicians

  • John Helliwell - saxophones, clarinet, melodica, whistle, etc.
  • Rob Buckland - leader, alto saxophone
  • Amy Roberts - alto saxophone
  • Mike Hall - tenor saxophone
  • Andy Scott - tenor saxophone
  • Carl Raven - baritone saxophone
  • John Barber - trombone
  • Carol Jarvis - trombone
  • Ellie Smith - trombone
  • Mark Frost - bass trombone
  • Ryan Quigley - trumpet
  • Russell Bennett - trumpet
  • Steve Waterman - trumpet and flugelhorn
  • Richard Iles - trumpet and flugelhorn
  • Martin France - drums
  • Billy Buckley - guitar
  • Ollie Collins - bass
  • Paul Kilvington - piano
  • Josh Savage - percussion.

Recording personnel

  • John Helliwell & Rob Buckland - Producers.
  • John Helliwell & Thorsten Hatge - Executive producers.
  • Raimondo Meli Lupi - Mastering producer
  • Paul Allen- Engineer
  • Chris Rundell - Assistant engineer
  • Mark White - Music producer
  • Clark Rundell - Conductor
  • Lea Westphal- Artwork & photo (back cover)
  • William Ellis - Photo (page 5)
  • Linda Hatje - Photo (page 3 bottom L)
  • Kezia Lovick-Jones - Photo (page 4 all L)
  • Clara Rundell - Photo (page 3 except bottom L. Page 4 all R)