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welcome to the DOWN SOUTH JAZZ CLUB inc. founded 1984 |
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“THE FIRST TWENTY YEARS”
A
History of the Club
Compiled
and Edited by John Martin
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• The Early Years • The Willows Era • The Lakeview Era • Acknowledgements & Appendices |
Foreword
Material for this history has been gathered
principally from a virtually complete collection of Newsletters in the
possession of Robin and Avis Willis, kindly made available to the editor: from
entries in the ClubÕs cash book; and from the committeeÕs minute book.
Regrettably periods existed when the
Newsletter issues were many months apart,
It was therefore impossible to list all the
local bands that appeared each month at the Willows and Lakeview and in other locations
before 1989. Also, even if it were possible to record this information, it
would have more than doubled the size of this document.
However, in adopting this course, an
injustice has no doubt been done to those many local musicians who were (and still
are) the backbone of music in the club.
The hundreds of performances given by these
dedicated musicians for our pleasure have done more than anything else to
establish the Club on a firm footing, and members and others owe them an
enormous debt of gratitude, which the editor would like to acknowledge here.
This document is not a history of jazz on
the Far South Coast and only occasionally is reference made to Ònon Club
sponsoredÓ jazz. However, many restaurants, pubs and bodies such as the Bega
Arts Council have provided jazz over the years - the most notable being, of
course, the Merimbula Jazz Festival, which, until 1998, was conducted
independently from the DSJC.
Pre
-1984
The
formation of the Down South Jazz Band in 1978 by Jiri Kripac introduced some sort of frequency to jazz
performances on the Far South Coast , with fairly regular gigs at various
locations such as the Bank Hotel in Bega and the Top
Pub in Pambula. Tuesday was practice night at Wolumla Hotel, usually attracting 10 to 15 people. The band
comprised Jiri Kripac (trumpet and leader), Barry Pascoe (trombone),
Monique Lysiak (clarinet), Gordon Brown (piano), John Moffatt (sousaphone), Bill McLean (banjo) and John Cursley (drums). Pat Thompson (Madam) sang regularly with
the band until it disbanded in 1985.
The band was even invited by the Victorian Jazz Club to
perform for them over one weekend, which they did most successfully.
1984
27th April -Tom Baker’s Swing Street Orchestra - Hideaway Rest.
13th June - Sydney Jazz Quintet - Bank Hotel.
6th July - Mike Hallam Hot Six - Eastern Jade Rest. (A
tribute to Louis Armstrong)
12th August - Madam Pat and
Rag Tag Band - Bank Hotel.
!st Sept -
Dick Hughes with DSJB - Hideaway Rest.
18th Oct - Tom Baker’s Swing
Street Orchestra - Eastern Jade.
27th October - Graeme Bell’s Allstars - Bowling Club. (Graeme’s 70th birthday)11th November - The Mildewed Figge J.B. - Bank Hotel.
27th April -Tom Baker’s Swing Street Orchestra - Hideaway Rest.
13th June - Sydney Jazz Quintet - Bank Hotel.
6th July - Mike Hallam Hot Six - Eastern Jade Rest. (A
tribute to Louis Armstrong)
12th August - Madam Pat and
Rag Tag Band - Bank Hotel.
!st Sept -
Dick Hughes with DSJB - Hideaway Rest.
18th Oct - Tom Baker’s Swing
Street Orchestra - Eastern Jade.
27th October - Graeme Bell’s Allstars - Bowling Club. (Graeme’s 70th birthday)11th November - The Mildewed Figge J.B. - Bank Hotel.
A
very fine start to the ClubÕs programme, by any
standards.
Visiting
band members always stayed at the CursleyÕs, GordonÕs
and PercyÕs and very many late nights ensued. One night, at the CursleyÕs Lyn Wallis went missing and John Cursley eventually discovered him lying on his back in the
front yard. Lyn then proceeded to bring JohnÕs attention to the wonderful stars
above Bega!
1985
1986
In an early Newsletter, the president
highlighted the poor attendance of Club members at most functions, commenting
that only 20 turned up to the last function.at the
Hideaway. He warned that unless
attendances at the Hideaway and Kameruka improved,
these venues would be lost to us.
An
experimental get-together with jazz clubs from Canberra, Sydney, Illawarra, Kiama and Narooma was held at the Steam Packet Hotel, Nellingan on Sunday 13th April. Many bands
including the DSJB, musos from Canberra, Madam Pat and her band and many others
provided the music. It was apparently a rip roaring success, with around 300
present.
Gigs
were introduced at the Cobargo Hotel and Tathra Surf Club, for some reason known as ÒSippersÓ. (John Cursley explains: ÒnippersÓ are young members of surf
clubs. ÒSippersÓ were the 5pm - 9pm Sunday drinkers at the Tathra Surf Club).
A
Club badge was issued, but abandoned for later years on the grounds of cost.
Windcheaters
in blue with a gold ÒDown South Jazz ClubÓ logo were purchased from Tulgeen Industries in Bega. Wendy
Percy supplied and attached an embroidered music note to each of the first garments purchased. As there were only a
few, they were prized as indications of founder membership.
This
year heralded the real start of the Òbucket brigadeÓ at the Yellowpinch Picnic at the end of the Merimbula Jazz Festival, in
which raffle tickets were sold with great enthusiasm to the picnickers.
Reference to the appendix will indicate just how much the Jazz Club has relied
on this raffle to keep afloat financially. It is mostly the same team today
continuing the tradition, so - to take the opportunity to plug - any new
volunteers will be most welcome and a lot of fun is guaranteed.
Membership
slightly increased to 150.
The following bands were "imported"
30th March - DSJB with Joe Stokman & Paul Ingle - Hideaway
13th April - Nellingan Rort with other jazz clubs. See above.
15th June - Madam Pat with
the Hot Club de Bega - Kameruka.
29th June - Clare Hansson with Madam Pat - Eastern Jade.
26th July - Sydney Jazz
Quintet - Eastern Jade Restaurant
27th July - Sydney Jazz
Quintet - Hideaway Restaurant.
25th October - Annual Jazz
Ball - Mike HallamÕs Hot Six - Twyford Hall.
26th October - Recovery
Cruise - Mike HallamÕs Hot Six - Sinbad, Broadwater.
Claire Hansson was a much acclaimed sit - in at the Ball. Life membership was presented to our
very distinguished Pat Thompson by President Terry Hayes.
The editor happily recalls the look of
horror and disbelief on the face of President un - faze Hayes when we arrived at Sinbad for the Recovery Cruise to discover their liquor licence had not yet come
through and the ship was dry! Naturally, the cruise was delayed whilst the
situation was rectified.
1987
1988
Membership fell yet again to 86.
ÒNon - ClubÓ Jazz twice a month started at the Candelo
Pub, with Bob PorterÕs Back Alley Five.
Again, due to lack of finance, visiting
musicians were limited to:
15th January - Pat Thompson & Nyn Hamilton - Tathra Bowling Club.
6th March - The Abel Jazzmen - Tilba Winery - joint venture with Batemans Bay
Jazz Club.
26th March - Tom BakerÕs Swing Street
Orchestra - Kameruka.
29th October - Black & White Ball -
Jeff EmbletonÕs Jazz Band - Twyford Hall.
To show how the best laid plans can go
wrong, a couple of days before the Tom Baker gig , the local licensing sergeant
stopped the performance being held in the restaurant. Undaunted, we hired a
marquee and held the night in the grounds in Kameruka; truly a memorable night,
witnessed by about thirty enthusiastic fans.The band
and ourselves agreed the acoustics were superb.
In discussing the Ball band, none of us had
heard of the Jeff Embleton band but the Lavers reckoned it was the best band at
Thredbo, so we booked them. They were very good, but finishing the music for
the Black and White Ball at eleven thirty was definitely unappreciated by the
large crowd, who were just getting warmed up!
Pity Harko wasnÕt
there!
Membership rose to 94.
The Club was Incorporated towards end of
year.
Bob Porter, as musical co-ordinator,
convinced the committee that we needed a base in which to conduct monthly jazz
gigs. Various venues were proposed, but Bob came up with the Willows at
Pambula. Bob made all the arrangements with Trish and Joe, the licensees, and
thus started a very happy association for nine years.
First Newsletters under the joint
editorship of Mark Westwood, Colin Gould and Bob Wade.
John Moffatt appointed Public Officer, with the principal place of administration of the
Club registered as 35 Beach Street, Merimbula.
Limited funds kept Òimported Ò musos to:
1st September - Paul Furniss & Paul
Baker with Louisa Searle and Peter
Saunders from
Canberra and local musicians Bob
Porter, Bill McLean and Bob
Everard -
Merimbula Golf Club.
3rd September - Paul Furniss & Paul
Baker same backing - Greenacre.
22nd September - Sydney Jazz Quintet - Twyford Hall - joint venture with South
Coast Arts Council.
28th October - Black & White Ball -
Black Mountain Jazz Band - Twyford Hall.
17th November - Tom BakerÕs Chicago
Seven - Hideaway Restaurant.
The President commented in the Newsletter
that the Sydney Jazz Quintet provided an excellent performance. Unfortunately,
the concert was attended by only a select few - only about thirty turned up.
This had a detrimental effect on subsequent attempts to lay on some modern
jazz, the comment always being - itÕll cost us a bomb!
On Thursday 21st December, a large crowd
enjoyed a Christmas function at the Willows. The band was led by Bob Porter,
accompanied by Ken Gordon (piano), Bill McLean (banjo), Walter Brunton
(washboard), Chris Owen (reeds) and Ted Daniel (drums). Later in the evening,
Graeme Walker added his guitar to the band to signal the arrival of the one and
only Pat Thompson for some
outstanding vocals.
1990
Membership increased dramatically to 142.
Membership charge increased from the original $10 to $12.
Jazz Club banner for parades brought up to
date and a new JAZZ backdrop curtain provided by Clare Gordon after the
previous one was stolen.
In December, John Martin was appointed
Public Officer in place of John Moffatt and the
principal place of administration changed to 5a Collins Street, Merimbula.
Bottom Pub monthly functions went from
strength to strength. It was decided to pay the bands a nominal sum ($20 per
head, with visitors payment at the discretion of the organiser). In lieu of
charging admittance (which would have been difficult owing to the number of
entrances to the Willows), a raffle was run, the prizes being a choice of a
tape or CD. Sometimes a prize of a bottle of wine was offered by the publican.
A cheque from the Festival Committee was
presented to the Club and an amplifier, worth around $800, made available for
its use.
John Cursley left
the district, with his enthusiasm and knowledge being greatly missed.
Col Gould authorised to set up a
photographic and Newsletter library.
Visiting bands were:
28th June - Jumping Jazz Cats -
Hideaway.
25th July Bob Barnard Jazz Band - Twyford Hall.
27th October - Black & White Ball -
Abbey Jazz Band (Eric Holroyd) with Nyn
The Newsletter commented that the Jumping
Jazz Cats, a popular swing style group from Canberra, entertained an
appreciative audience of around forty at the Hideaway. As around one hundred
were required to break even, it was observed that the Club lost most of the
profits from the festival raffle in one evening.
The Black & White Ball attracted over
120 people to Twyford Hall - a record for the Club.
Another good turnout was at the Christmas
function at the Willows. The musicians were Joe Stokman (reeds), Don More (vibrophone), Walter Brunton
(washboard), Bill McLean (banjo), John Moffatt(sousaphone),
John Judge(Trumpet), Ken Gordon (piano), Don Lawrence (saxophone), Pat Thompson
(vocals), Margie Fullerton (piano), Tony Fullerton (trombone), and Graeme
Walker (guitar). This function was becoming one of the big events of the year
for Club members.
1991
Membership dropped again to105
A very notable benefit night to assist Pat
Thompson to undertake another overseas tour was arranged by the Down South Jazz
Club Inc., at the Merimbula Bowling Club on 6th June. The sum of $2,100 was
raised to help Pat.
The Club address was changed from PO Box
646 Bega to PO Box 346 Merimbula.
50 new Club windcheaters were ordered from Tulgeen Industries.
In December, it was decided to increase the
base payment of musicians at the Willows from $20 to $40.
The first of many Christmas parties at the
Willows was held, with virtually all local musicians who had performed for the
Club during the year being invited (and paid) to play at the function.
In December, Walter Brunton invited the
Club to have a jazz picnic on his farm. Music was provided by local musicians.
Apart from Pat Thompsons benefit night, the only visiting musicians were:
18th October - Black & White Ball -
Society Syncopators - RSL auditorium,
1992
Membership fell further to 87.
January at the Willows saw the start of
what was to become an annual event in the form of a visit by Tony Thomas and
Geoff Speed of the Black Mountain Jazz Band, backed by our local musos Bob Porter, Bill McLean, John Moffatt and Walter Brunton.
Introduction of MembersÕ Attendance Jackpot
Prize to encourage attendance, particularly at the less popular gigs.
The Black and White Ball had become
something of a social event in Merimbula, with many non - member locals
attending because it was the place to be seen. Many of the guests produced
silver goblets, French champagne, and a quite elaborate meal. Club members
spent the Saturday afternoon decorating the hall and tables and Twyford Hall was transformed into a fairyland of colour.
With the great jazz bands selected to provide the music, it was definitely the
event of the year for Club members.
1993
Membership increased again to 111.
The Willows performances took on an established format, commencing at 8pm and continuing until around 11 -ish. Around 10pm, publicans Trish and Joe served a free light supper, which was greatly appreciated by the band and audience alike. Providing the audience totalled more than forty, a raffle was conducted. Prizes were originally records, later tapes or Cds. Considerable care was taken in the selection of these prizes to try to
9
give members a wider experience of jazz. At
the Christmas party, the Club contributed to the cost of the supper to provide
something a little more substantial in recognition of the occasion. Father
Christmas usually made his appearance about then.
Various local bands took turns apiece to
appear at the Willows and sometimes visiting artists were booked to augment the
local bands.
Mark Westwood left the area and
relinquished editorship of the Newsletter, a job he had performed with
distinction since 1989. Col Gould, Bob Wade and Margaret Howard continued the
good work.
1994
Membershis remained fairly static at 107, despite membership charges
increasing to $15 for renewals and $20 for new members.
During 1994, major effort was put into
making the jazz nights at the Willows a success. Local bands performed each
month, the following outfits usually taking turns:
Sapphire Coast Quartet - comprising Joe Stokman (reeds), Margie
Fullerton (piano), Tony Fullerton (elect. bass and trombone), and Ken Vatcher (drums).
Down South Jazz Quartet - comprising Bob Porter (reeds), John Moffatt (sousaphone), Bill McLean (banjo) and Walter Brunton (washboard).
Down South Six - comprising Don Lawrence (reeds), Bob Porter (reeds), Tony
Fullerton (trombone), John Moffatt (sousaphone), Bill
McLean (banjo) and Ted Daniel (drums).
These bands attracted reasonable audiences
to the Willows, although on wintry nights often there were only about thirty
people present.
An unpleasant experience for the Committee
occurred in April. A night with the famous Zenith New Orleans Jazz Band at Twyford Hall had to be cancelled at the last moment due to
a deplorable lack of interest by members. Zenith accepted a cancellation charge
of $400 and undertook to appear at our Black and White Ball in October.
The Christmas Party on December 15th was
the biggest yet.
The following visitors appeared for us
during the year:
20th January - Tony Thomas and Geoff Speed
(Black Mountain J.B.), backed by
the
Down South Jazz Quartet - Willows.
24th October - Black & White Ball -
Zenith New Orleans Jazz Band - Twyford Hall.
1995
Membership remained almost constant at 104
The post -festival bash at the Willows
became an annual event, with mostly the same line-up of locals and visitors.
The attendance of 90 at the Black &
White Ball was quite disappointing, considering the composition of the band.
However, the Merimbula Spring Festival Committee had organised a pre- Melbourne
cup night, complete with Calcutta and the works, at the Grange on the following
Monday night (two nights later), which attracted over 250 people. No doubt a
fair number of our normal customers would have been included in that figure.
The Committee resolved to keep our ball date well away from the Melbourne cup
weekend in future.
1996
Membership was maintained at 104.
Joe & Marea Speer were elected joint Newsletter editors at the AGM, a task they carried out
very ably for twelve months.
In November, the musicians basic fees at
the Willows were increased from $40 to $50.
The basic prize for the Members Attendance
Jackpot was increased from $10 to $30. The $30 would remain static for three
months if not won and then jackpot to a maximum of $100, as before.
The following were special events for the
year:
18th January - Tony Thomas & Geoff
SpeedÕs annual appearance with the Down
21st March - ÒPearls before SwainÓ (Jenny
SwainÕs band)- Willows.
14th September - Black & White Ball -
John FearnleyÕs Pacific Coast Jazzmen -
31st October - Swedish Jazz Kings (joint
venture with Bega Arts Council) - Bega
19th December - Christmas Party - Sapphire
Coast Quartet plus local musos who
Regrettably, the attendance at the Ball was
appalling, only 43 participating. We tried to cancel at very short notice, but
the band had turned down a big night and , being working musicians, would
require the agreed hire fee as a cancellation charge. So we went ahead with the
show which was exceptionally good musically. However, after spending several
hours decorating the hall, only to lose $1,100, the Committee changed its views
on the subject of holding a future ball. In October, the Committee voted to
abandon the Black and White Ball.
Six weeks later, another wonderful night
was presented, but this time we made a profit! The Swedish Jazz Kings put on a
brilliant performance, which left the audience entranced. Note this and refer
to a repeat performance in 1998. It sure is hard to predict how our locals will
react to a show! Incidentally, Pat Thogersen did a
marvellous job decorating the tables with little Swedish flags, etc (which
totally charmed the band) and also acting as MC.
During the year we had been steadily losing
money at the Willows gigs. The band costs were reasonably constant but our sole
source of income was the raffle. If the attendance was poor, raffle income was
also poor and some nights there were so few in attendance that we didnÕt even
hold a raffle. (The raffle prizes cost more than the takings). The Club only kept afloat financially because of
the generous annual donation from the Festival Committee and the proceeds of
the festival raffle itself. (Note: In December and January, charges of $3 and $5 were actually made at the
Willows).
It was suspected the attendances were low
because the same local musicians were being presented, with only occasional
performances by visiting musos. Financially, we could
not change this situation due to lack of funds.
A special meeting was called to discuss
this situation , the result being, for various reasons, that we should try a
new venue. The Lakeview Hotel, Merimbula was selected for the first trial run
in April,1997, the band being the Down South Jazz Quartet with Bob Porter, John Moffatt, Bill McLean and Walter Brunton. It was also
decided to charge visitors $5 more than members for all future gigs, with
members of other jazz clubs paying $2.50 more.
1997
- The Lakeview Era
Membership increased dramatically to 142.
Col Gould resumed editorship of the
Newsletter.
Local bands played on the third Thursday of
each month early in the year at the Willows and later at the Lakeview. These
bands were mostly: Down South Jazz Quartet, the Sapphire Coast Quartet and the
Down South Six.
Special nights were:
16th January - Tony Thomas, Jim Hilson and Geoff Speed (Black Mountain front
21st August - Graham Steel augmented the
Sapphire Coast 4 - Lakeview.
2nd November - Take Four - Lakeview.
18th December - Christmas Party with
Sapphire Coast Quintet (with John Fry &
Quartet;
Down South Six; Don MoreÕs Big Band - Lakeview.
In November the Club effectively lost one
of its very best musicians when Joe Stokman had a
stroke which interfered severely with his playing. We live in hope that Joe
will fully recover, to entertain us once again.
Arrangements at the Lakeview were placed on
a more commercial footing than the Willows. The basic agreement was that for
ordinary nights, members would continue to get in free, but visitors and non-
members would be charged $5. Members of other jazz clubs would pay $2,50. We
would run a raffle . We would be responsible for the band and would pay for it
and the Lakeview Management would make a contribution to us.
On special nights, for instance when a
visiting band was being presented at a much higher cost, members would be
charged an admission fee, with visitors paying an extra $5. By arrangement,
band meals and accommodation would be provided by the hotel as part of their
contribution.
From the start, this arrangement has worked
well, with many gigs breaking even, others showing a small profit or loss.
After a very auspicious start, attendances during the winter tended to fall
off. What was more worrying was that out of a typical audience of 50, only
about 25 were Club members, from a Club membership of over 100. Enquiries to
non - attendees brought responses such as ÒThere is too much sameness about the
musicÓ and ÒThere is no atmosphere in the pubÓ.
The Committee resolved to try to create
atmosphere by decorating the tables for the Christmas party and altering the
lighting, and to try to provide visiting artists or bands every second month,
with local bands providing the music on alternate months.
1998
During the year, membership increased to
188, the best figure since 1984.
The Merimbula Jazz Festival Committee
became a sub - committee of the Down South Jazz Club Committee. This, in
effect, meant that the festival came under the incorporation umbrella of the
DSJC, with definite advantages to the sub committee members. A series of rules
was drawn up, which closely governs who can become members of the sub -
committee, thereby safeguarding the future of the festival. The responsibility
for policy decisions and the running of the festival remain with the sub -
committee. With the resource of the DSJC people and the above rules, it appears the future of the festival is
secure.
The quality of sound at the Lakeview left something to be desired. After some
experimentation, a good solution resulted from the use of George PittÕs
speakers on the stage, on stands built for the purpose, with one of the ClubÕs
speakers used as a fold back unit and the other mounted on the right hand wall
near the entrance.
During the year, the Committee did their
best to adhere to the decision to present visiting artists / bands on alternate
months with local bands. The visitors were:
1999
Membership increased from 188 to 203 during
the year.
Local musicians fees were increased from
$50 to $65.
Purchase of an acoustic piano was investigated
to comply with the requirements of visiting bands such as the Swedish Jazz
Kings, but abandoned on grounds of cost and difficulty in storing, moving and
tuning the instrument. In extreme cases, a piano can be hired from Ian Hargreaves in Bega.
A new Club banner suitable for use as a
backdrop on regular gigs and also as a Club banner in jazz festival parades was
purchased from Wilson Signs.
An attempt was made to enlarge the scope of
the Club by organizing special nights to play tapes, CDs and videos of jazz
bands, have illustrated lectures on specific musicians and the like but not
proceeded with due to lack of interest.
Regrettably, Peter Horton passed away on 26th December.
The following bands performed for the Club
during the year, all at Lakeview Hotel.
2000
Membership dropped to 187.
The following bands entertained us during
the year at the Lakeview Hotel:-
7 & 8 January - The Society
Syncopators
20 January - Bob Barnard with Jim Cullum, Kevin Hunt, Ed Gaston & Len
18 February - Alan Davey,
Paul Furniss & Ed Wilson with Margie & Tony Fullerton &
16 March - DÕJazzco
24 March - The Society Syncopators
27 April - The Canberra Connection
18 May - Remembrance Concert for Peter
Horton
1 June - Olympia Jazz Band (Geoff Bull)
15 June - Festival ÒLeftovers BandÓ
20 July - Alan Davey, Paul Furniss, Roger Janes with Margie & Tony Fullerton & KenVatcher17 August - Lakeview Allstars
21 September - Down South Jazz Band with Jiri Kripac
20 October - Black Mountain Jazz Band
16 November - Bob Barnard, John McCarthy
& Ed Wilson with Margie & Tony Fullerton
22 December - Christmas Party with New
Orleans Wonderdogs (Gary Simmons)
Carbon Copy were appointed as printers.
This was an inspired move as we have enjoyed much helpful assistance over the
years from John and Peter Spinks.
Neil McGill designed a new advertising
poster.
Membership fees were increased from $15 to
$20 (renewals) and from $20 to $25 (new applications).
A new sound system was purchased for
$6,100, complete with fold back speakers and an auxiliary speaker at the rear
right side of the hall to eliminate the sound barrier effect on that side.
Long serving auditor Ron Doyle was forced
to resign due to ill health and Stephen Clarke appointed in his place. Mr &
Mrs Doyle were elected life members of the Club in recognition of RonÕs
sterling work over the years.
To combat the effects of the GST, the
Merimbula Jazz Festival Sub Committee separated from the Club.
The musicians attending the Peter Horton
Memorial Concert referred to above
gave their services free and special
collections and raffles were held to optimize receipts for his widow, Helen. $1,365.60 was raised on the night. Musicians
attending were: Arthur Turner, John Marshall, Bob Porter, John Moffatt, Don More, Bill McLean, Walter Brunton, Margie and
Tony Fullerton, Ken Vatcher, Ted Graves, Stephen
Clark, Gordon Benjamin and Michael Young.
On a sad note, the 17 August gig filled at
short notice by the Lakeview Allstars, was meant to
be – Carol Ralph with Roger Janes, Sandro Donato, Karl Hird with Margie,
Tony and Ken. Unfortunately, the day before, Roger Janes received severe
injuries in a car accident, from which he ultimately died.
2001
Membership increased again from 187 to 213,
our best ever. Strangely, membership seems to go up when annual fees are
increased!
Bands performing during the year were:
11 January - Roger Janes Benefit night
19 January - John Cameron Jazz Band
25 January - The Society Syncopators
15 February - The Fortified Few
22 March - Paul Furniss, Tom Baker &
Bob Henderson with Margie & Tony Fullerton &
6 April - The Society Syncopators
19 April - Down South Jazz Band
17 May - Alan Davey,
Anita Thomas, Roy Ferrin with Arthur Turner John
Marshall &
14 June – Festival gig - Rampart
Street Jazz Band (Dave Drummond)
17 July - ÒTwo PianosÓ with Margie Fullerton & Arthur
Turner
16 August - Des Camm Jazz Band
20 September - Paul Furniss, Bob
Henderson, Tom Baker with Margie & Tony Fullerton
18 October - Phil Mason Jazz Band from
UK
15 November - Down South Jazz Quartet +
Robert Moffatt
20 December - Christmas Party with all
local bands
The benefit night held on 11 January for
Roger Janes, who was seriously ill in hospital, was attended by the following
musicians, who gave their services free: Arthur Turner, John Marshall, Bob Porter, John & Robert Moffatt, Bill McLean, Walter Brunton, Margie and Tony
Fullerton, Ken Vatcher, Ted Graves, Stephen Clark,
Kim and Ben Rushworth and Beverley Sheehan. As usual in these cases, the hard
word was put upon the audience to boost door takings and raffle proceeds with
their generosity and resulted in the sum of $1,400 being forwarded to Roger.
(Regrettably, Roger died on 6.3.01).
Local musicians fees were increased from
$65 to $100.
The Post of Hostess was created on the Committee,
with Gloria Campbell being elected.
We were indirectly affected by the
September 11th terrorist bombings in the USA in that the 10th Avenue Jazz Band, booked for October, had to cancel.
Admission fees were raised for visiting
bands from $5/$10 to $10/$15 and for visiting front line to $8/12
(members/visitors).
Concern was shown for the low attendances
of Club members at our functions. Of 14 jazz nights in the past year, members
attendance was 924, or 66 per night out of a membership of around 200 (33%).
Local musicians who played at our Christmas
Party provided their services free of charge.
As the auditor appointed for the year ran
into difficulty in devoting the time necessary to check our books due to
pressures of regular business, Tony Fullerton kindly obliged.
2002
Membership declined slightly to 204
The following bands played for us during
this year:
17 January - Bob Barnard and Jim Cullum with Chris Tapperell and
Len Barnard
31 January - DÕJazzco
28 February - Louisiana Shakers (Ashley
Keating)
22 March - Black Mountain Jazz Band
18 April - Eric Holroyd and Michael McQuaid with Margie & Tony Fullerton
and Ken
16 May - Down South Jazz Quartet with
Jim Hilson
13 June - Festival gig – Jazz Lips
(Paul Ingle, Nyn Hamilton vocals)
18 July - Margie Fullerton & Friends
15 August - DÕJazzco
19 September - Louisiana Shakers
17 October - Swedish Jazz Kings
22 November - Society Syncopators
19 December - Christmas Party with all
local bands
Because of an abnormally high bank balance
and to encourage bigger attendances at our functions, it was decided to reduce
admission fees back to $5/$10 for visiting bands or
Front liners, making admission charges the
same for all categories. However, international bands and expensive Australian
bands will be considered on a case to case basis.
Investigations were conducted into
improving band lighting and also tidying up the speakers layout by installing
brackets on the walls. Progress delayed until the Hotel sale was completed.
Tony Fullerton was appointed auditor.
Existing rapport between the President and
Andrew Ogilvie of the ABC was considered to be very
important from an advertising viewpoint and should be encouraged.
The Committee agreed to sponsor and
encourage the formation of a concert band largely comprising young musicians.
The band would operate as a sub committee of the Down South Jazz Club in the
same fashion as the Festival Committee and would benefit from our insurance
protection and incorporation benefits. A special annual fee of $5 was agreed
upon. The band will be known as the Sapphire Coast Concert Band.
Initial meetings were held with the new
hotel management who were happy to allow things to carry on as before. However,
changes may be introduced in the future.
Once again, local musicians provided the
entertainment at the Christmas Party free of charge.
2003
A substantial fall in membership occurred ,
from 204 to 183
We were fortunate to engage the following
bands during the year:
Low attendances during the year continued
to worry the committee. Visitors rescued the situation many times and, to try
to attract more, efforts were made to inform them of our
For several months, activities were
transferred to the Bowling Club while renovations at the hotel proceeded. The Fiambre gig was well attended at the Sapphire Room (probably
boosted greatly by local supporters of the band) but the excellent Sapphire
Sextet attracted a poor response in the basement.
The Sapphire Coast Concert Band membership
increased to 39. A regular weekly rehearsal is held and with the band
reputation growing, performances were being requested at many official
gatherings.
To our great sorrow, our much - respected
Newsletter Editor and former Treasurer, Neil McGill, passed away after a year
long fight with cancer.
As the bank balance was in a very healthy
state, it was decided to pay the Christmas Party musicians $50 each.
2004
The following bands performed in the early
months of 2004:
15 January – Geoff Power &
Alan Soloman with Margie & Tony Fullerton &
Ken
29 January – Down South Jazz
Quartet with George Washingmachine
20 February – Black Mountain Jazz
Band
25 March – Paul Furniss, Bob
Henderson & Dan Barnett with Arthur Turner, Stephen
15 April – Down South Jazz ClubÕs
20th Birthday – Down South Jazz Band with Jiri
Further discussions were held with the
Hotel management regarding poor attendance at gigs. A questionnaire requesting
comments on location, food and drink menus and prices, services and the type of
jazz being offered was included in the Newsletter. Follow –up meetings
with management are planned.
The jazz discussion group proposal was
resurrected as hotel management had offered the use of their sophisticated
facilities for screening and playing videos and CDs. Again dropped through lack
of interest.
It was decided to relinquish rights to the
title ÒDown South Jazz BandÓ on the grounds of expense and difficulty in
monitoring its use.
The Sapphire Coast Concert Band now has 50
playing members and its repertoire and demand for performances continue to
grow. Mike Lackey is our liaison officer.
At the time of updating the Club history,
the Club is in a very satisfactory financial state (see appendix B), enabling
us to subsidise top class functions for a considerable time, even allowing for
reduced attendances. It is the intention of the Committee to continue to invite
leading bands and musicians for the foreseeable future, thus maintaining the
enviable position of the Club within the jazz community and with musicians in
particular.
Negotiations are proceeding to bring bands such as the 10th Avenue Jazz Band (USA), the Swedish Jazz Kings (Sweden), and leading Australian bands and musicians to the Club during the rest of the year. The Committee recognizes the good compromise of having top rate front line musicians backed by local musicians which provides our locals with the pleasure and experience of playing with high quality visitors and seems to please the audience as well.
Acknowledgements
To Col Gould for the use of the very
extensive collection of photographs assembled over the period 1989 to 2001 and
for his help with the earlier history.
To Robin and Avis Willis for keeping a
virtually full set of Newsletters and making them available for study. Also for
the use of photographs from their own extensive photograph albums, particularly
over the period 2001 to 2004.
To two former presidents, John Cursley and Ken Gordon, for recording early information in Newsletters, and for anecdotes. To information derived from the Club’s Cash
Books.
To information derived from the Club’s
Minute Books.
To Terry Leonard for his time and comments
in reading and correcting the manuscript.
To
everyone who has helped in assembling this information.
Appendices:
A -Tables of Committee members.
B - Profit results and bank balances.
C - Results of festival raffles.
D - Locations used by DSJC.
E - Bands and Musicians who have played at
the Club..
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APPENDIX A
Membership of Committees – 1984 to 2003
Honorary
and Life Members of the Down South Jazz Club Inc.
Patron: Bill Haesler
Honorary
Members: Graeme Bell
Frank
Percy
Pat
Thompson
Life Members: Ron
& June Doyle
APPENDIX B
Profitability and
Bank Balance at year end
APPENDIX C
Festival
Raffle Results
APPENDIX D
List of locations used by DSJC
APPENDIX E
Musicians and Bands that have played for
the DSJC
Visiting Bands
Visiting Musicians
Local Bands
Local Musicians
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Decorations for Black & White Ball
