Talking Heads -  Don Burrows

This week on Talking Heads, Peter Thompson talks to one of Australia's 'National Treasures', jazz musician Don Burrows.

Burrows isn't keen on being labelled a 'legend'. Even so, he's had an extraordinary career for more than 60 years, starting as a boy playing in smoky clubs during the war. Over the years he's helped lift the profile of jazz, bringing it just a little respectability and he's recorded more than 40 albums.

A believer that jazz musicians are 'born', at four-years-old he had started laying his musical foundations by listening to big bands on the radio. The turning point in Burrow's life was a visit to his school by classical flautist Victor McMahon. After marvelling at McMahon's skill, he got the chance to blow into a B-flat school flute and 'that was it'. His parents bought him a B-flat school flute, which he often played during later professional performances, including the Newport Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall.

After the war, aged only 16, Burrows joined the ABC Dance Orchestra as soloist clarinet and saxophone player. By the end of the 50s he'd started the Don Burrows Quartet that, at various times, became a quintet. This was the beginning of a great professional and personal friendship with George Golla, and they played together for 38 years.

A passion for Burrows has been bringing music to people who wouldn't normally get a chance to experience it live. He's toured extensively in Australia - including outback Aboriginal communities.

Burrows has been undeterred by a long battle with arthritis. The pain first set in when he was 38. His attitude is that "it just makes playing tougher than it already is". He might not be able to play that B-flat school flute any more, but still revels in the joy of creating music and performing with his circle of friends.

Talking Heads will be repeated on ABC2 - Tuesday, October 14 at 5:00pm