part 3 / the story of modern jazz in Australia.
Joe Lane had told me that, "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, who played oboe and bassoon as well, 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. Beatniks, Surfies and Bodgies. Mike Nock's Three-Out Trio, the Australian Jazz Quintet and the Don Burrows' Quartet all had their origins there.
(Kevin Lucas' short film 'Beyond El Rocco', remains a cameo and a must-see of Sydney's most famous jazz-club and the beginnings of modern jazz in Sydney with Joe 'bebop' Lane and Tony Barry as 'Zoot Finster', the central characters. Snippets are on You-tube.)
John Sangster, who belongs first on a list of great Australian Jazz-Composers, was incredible on both drums and vibes. His 'Hobbit Suite' and 'Lord of the Rings' are seminal recordings and hopefully someone will reissue these beautiful albums. I remember hearing John Sangster at the Musician's Club in Chalmers Street, late Friday night, the place filled with musos wearing dinner-suits. With Alan Turnbull in the band, he was really happening and at one point in the proceedings Sangster told a story about another gig on vibes (he was always telling yarns). Apparently, as an added effect, the club had installed a machine that pumped out thousands of ping-pong balls onto the stage and as he related, "The whole stage appeared to be moving and I couldn't see the notes. It felt very strange, as if I was moon-walking".
paul pax andrews.........
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