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This pic was taken in the beautiful gardens of Milton Park, Bowral, in the early 90s I think. The band was led by Tony Gardner.
A friend had told me this new guy had arrived in town, so I rang and introduced myself. Tony had energy and drive, and started booking me straight away, without an audition or rehearsal. The great bassist Alan Riley, and Phil Pryor, completed the band, all coming from the Sydney Jazz band ‘Mr. Crow.’
This is the best way to learn to play swing – no charts, no song list. These guys knew their stuff, and of course I didn’t plan for it to end. But it did. Tony moved to Albury (caught up with him last month), and Alan sadly passed away. What a great musical experience.
Alan and Tony Gardner helped me play Swing/Jazz in a professional setting for the first time. However, that didn’t stop Alan putting bricks, empty cigarette packets, and whatever else he could find, in my stuff to ‘lighten’ my load at the end of a gig.
Alan’s time was so strong I could stop playing and it wouldn’t make any difference. Learning from drum books is fantastic, but a gig with Alan brought it all home.
‘Sooze’ is taking over where Alan left off – what a great site!
Birthday Party, 2007
Another great musical connection has been Chris from Teammania.
In the past 15 years that I’ve known Chris, he has built his corporate entertainment/team building business up to the point where he travels the globe. He books me at short notice, and next thing I’m on the Gold Coast, the Hunter Valley, or the Blue Mountains, playing for one of his shows.
It usually ends the next day, debating anything from the state of the coffee, or as to why he just went out and bought a ‘standard Gibson’ guitar without consulting me. Chris is a great friend and an inspiration. Oh yeah, and through his musical connections I was able to hang with one of the drum giants of Oz music: Mark Kennedy – we are not worthy, etc.
Check out his site: www.dialm.com.au
Marulan near Goulburn, 2007
On a recommendation, the Coads booked me down south in Goulburn last year. I have been helping them out when they’re in town ever since.
I used to think I traveled, but these girls really notch up the kms. They do a gig loop that starts at Bundanoon, shoots to Broken Hill, down to Adelaide, then back through the countryside home.
Then they call me, and we do a local gig.
When Wayne at Goulburn Music says he’s going to do something – it happens. A rodeo gig with Nicki Gillis? No problem. A gangster night at a ‘nature retreat,’ bring it on.
First met Wayne working for a local production of Superstar, and we have been gigging ever since. What you want at a gig is total relaxation, and he has the right stuff, plus one of the best country voices you’re ever going to hear. The Loaded Dog (our last gig) is still raving about his original song about the pub.
The Briars, 2006
Not going to tell my age, but working on and playing in this current project has taken 20 years off the birth certificate.
To play in front of people at a function, sometimes in a setting that includes a real piano, is magic - it's why I still play the drums. I can hear my constantinople or my k crash, and feel the beginning and end of the sound. Add a vocalist a bassplayer and a piano player that want to be in the room and not just present an ABN: The soul is complete.
When a legend walks in, suddenly
every note becomes important.
The singer, the guy who started the band,
and the web designer, the Country Club, 2004
The Country Club, 2007
The reason why I don’t move back to Sydney seeking fame and a one-bedroom flat.
Picture taken by Frank, a talented local photographer.