bob bertles at the el rocco, kings cross, sydney

the first band to play at the el rocco in the 60's included legendary altoist BOB BERTLES; KEITH STIRLING, tpt; DAVE LEVY pno; JOHN POCHEE dms; ED GASTON bass. Joe Lane had told me; ―Around 1955, Arthur James opened the „El Rocco‟ in Brougham St. and the punters came in for a cup of Nescafe, while the entertainment was a black and white television mounted on a wall". Eventually though it became Sydney's first modern-jazz club (including light boxes with black and white glossy photos of musicians at the entrance to a steep staircase with JAZZ CLUB‟ in lights above the door). Bob Bertles kicked off proceedings and the place soon became home to a new crew. Judy Bailey, Col Nolan, Lyn Christie, John Sangster, Don Burrows, Errol Buddle, George Golla, Graeme Lyall, Sid Edwards, Bobby Gebert, Tony Esterman, Ed Gaston, Keith Stirling, John Pochee, Bernie McGann, Joe Lane, Dave Levy made the El Rocco their home. Beatnicks, Surfies and Bodgies. Mike Nock's Three-Out Trio, the Australian Jazz Quartet and the Don Burrows' Quartet all had their origins there. pax

Added 28 Sept 2026