VJAZZ 46 MAY 2010 Proactively collect, archive and disseminate Australian Jazz The Victorian Jazz Archive“Legends proudly presents of Jazz” another in their series with a pictorial history covering the 50 years of The Yarra Yarra Jazz Band Officially opened byth LeeApril Treanor 2010 at (banjo 3:00pm player at the with Archive original premises band) on Saturday, 10 Open to the public Tues-Fri 10am-3pm e ? r ear m draise ou h y Fun can y anuar uss own J R Rosst Treasures from the Archive Coming up Rosstown Fundraisers May 30th, August 29th, October 31st See you there ( Flyer attached) er San Antonio to Mentone ician Mus Real 15 Mountain Highway, Wantirna 3152 Melway Ref. 63 C8 QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE VICTORIAN JAZZ ARCHIVE INC. PATRON: WILLIAM H. MILLER M.A., B.C.L. (Oxon.) (All correspondence to: PO Box 6007 Wantirna Mall, Vic. 3152) Registered No: A0033964L ABN 53 531 132 426 Ph (03) 9800 5535 email: [email protected]. Web page: www.vicjazzarchive.org.au VJAZZ 46 Page 2 may be purchased through the Archive FROM THE LIBRARY Shop. The VJA library enters By Ken Simpson-Bull As far as computerisation was the concerned, as a retired book publisher I “Bix – Man and Legend” twenty - first century had a fair idea of the efficiencies and benefits an electronic library catalogue Richard Sudhalter and Phillip Evans would bring both in processing donated By Kim Harris books and accessing the existing are the authors of a definitive book collection. But I wasn’t qualified to about Bix Beiderbecke. SOME years ago I became the second decide the most appropriate form that VJA Librarian, succeeding Tom Wanliss. computerisation should take, and CHRISTENED “Bix” (not Bismarck as Tom had done a sterling job in setting therefore to argue for the allocation of some sources state), Bix Beiderbecke up the VJA Library, and a card system cash to its implementation. We needed started displaying his musical talents at recording its holdings that amounted more specialised talent, and two new the age of six. Although he had no then to about 600 volumes. With the volunteers provided the solution. Allyson lessons, he could play tunes on the exception of a few rare Australian Anthonisz is a qualified librarian with piano that he had heard only once. By works, these books were all stored in detailed knowledge of library systems the age of fifteen he had taught himself the R.G. Marginson Library, sharing and procedures. Ralph Powell brought cornet (albeit using unconventional space with the various exhibitions valve fingering) largely by listening to mounted in that space. The record cards the records of the Original Dixieland “experience of a school librarian” were limited to four categories: Jazz Band. At seventeen he was playing biographies and autobiographies, on professional gigs, and four years experience as a school librarian, which discographies, encyclopaedias and later, in 1925, was making recordings enabled him to access and demonstrate “general jazz books”. Within each with The Wolverines for the OKeh label. a system suited to the scale of the category each book was carded by Bix picked up some of his skills by Archive’s needs. This culminated in a author and title. After checking holdings associating with the bands that played management decision to acquire a and documenting existing systems, two on the riverboats that came up the system called Bibliotech. Bibliotech main tasks emerged; to tackle space Mississippi as far as his home town of enables us to download information problems associated with the growing Davenport. As his fame and skill about our new acquisitions directly from collection, and to investigate how best to increased he was hired by the famous international bibliographic sites in computerise the library’s records. Jean Goldkette orchestra with which he standard library formats. Our users can toured the United States in the late access this information in basically the Space remains a problem for the 1920s playing cornet. With this band he same way as they search the Archive in general, and ultimately the was in good jazz company with the likes catalogues of their local libraries. And Library’s problems in this dimension of Frank Trumbauer, Eddie Lang, our library is at least theoretically in a must look to be resolved as part of a Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, Joe Venuti, position to interact with the Australian broader context. In the shorter term, a and Danny Polo. and international library and research decision was taken to ease pressures in In 1928 he joined the celebrated communities as part of the Archive’s the Marginson Library by removing orchestra of Paul Whiteman (“The King objective to preserve and promote duplicate copies from that location, and of Jazz”). Whiteman’s heavily orch- Australia’s contribution to the history of setting up a separate collection of these estrated style did not suit Bix who had jazz. in the Jilly Ward Room at the west end difficulty reading music and much of the building. These copies were preferred his own improvised technique. Thanks to Allyson and Ralph for their made available for member borrowing This led to depression which, combined key contributions to bringing our library on an honour system. Where there were st with his sometimes heavy drinking, into the 21 Century. We look forward to multiple duplicate copies, it was ultimately led to his premature death members and visitors taking the time to resolved to try to dispose of these where from pneumonia at age 28 in 1931. see what it has to offer. possible, either by donation to libraries As well as being master of the with jazz interests cornet, Bix was also a skilful composer. (e.g., the Victorian His piano recording of “In a Mist” has College of the become a jazz classic. Bix’s life was Arts) or by re- fancifully fictionalised in a novel (later a selling them to film) called Young Man With a Horn, members and however for an accurate and extremely other interested well-researched biography, one cannot parties. Members go past Bix – Man and Legend by are urged to take Richard Sudhalter and Phillip Evans. advantage of these services. “Bix – Man and Legend” (along with Visit the Archive; many other Jazz related books) is b r o w s e t h e available for loan to members from the Marginson Library Jilly Ward library at the VJA premises in collection, or Wantirna. borrow from the lending library in the Jilly Ward Cover Photo left to right: Room. Books for Denis Ball, Judy Jacques, Lee sale are also Treanor, Maurice Garbutt, Don Hall, displayed in the Les Fithall, Bob Brown. latter location and Ralph Powell, Allyson Anthonisz and Kim Harris VJAZZ 46 Page 3 VJA Fund Raiser at the Rosstown times with Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk. By Ken Simpson-Bull Richard Miller (clarinet, saxophone and vocals) played with the popular Red CHRIS LUDOWYK and his Syncopators and rhythmic combination of traditional Onions and has been on two successful were the big attraction at the Rosstown jazz and swing and they have become European tours. Richard writes most of hotel in Carnegie on Sunday, 31 Jan- one of the leading jazz groups in the group’s original compositions. uary. The function was to have featured Australia. In fact, because of their Jeff Arthur (guitar and banjo) joined the Chris’s “Society Five”, but the two more extensive overseas touring, they are band in 1991. He had previously played that make up the complete band were arguably recognised as world leaders in alongside Ronnie Burns, Dennis Walter, happily recruited at the last moment. their field. Donna Lee, and Normie Rowe, to name With over 150 attending, the day got In 1995 the group toured Europe as a few. off to a good start with a foot-tapping part of the Government “Experience arrangement of “Avalon”. During the Australia” program, the only traditional James Clark (double bass and tuba) afternoon the band played quite a few jazz ensemble from Victoria to be sel- originally trained in classical piano in numbers from their latest CD. ected to do so. The highlight of that trip Adelaide from where he moved to Mel- Some of the afternoon's outstanding was to appear at the prestigious North- bourne to join the Syncopators. He has pieces included “Paper Doll”, “King Port- sea Jazz Festival at Den Haag in the performed with such celebrities as Wild er Stomp” and a great rendition of that Netherlands. Bill Davison, Bob Barnard, and Art old-time number “I Wonder Who’s Kis- Some of the band’s other appear- Hodes. He is also the band’s recording sing Her Now” (with some new and ances include a concert tour of New engineer having at one time been a amusing lyrics by Peter Gaudion). Caledonia, recorded and live ABC tele- technical operator with the ABC. Another of Peter’s vocals had us in vision shows, the opening of Melb- Steve Grant (piano) is well renowned fits of laughter with his parody on “Man- ourne’s Crown Casino, a spot in the film as one of Melbourne’s outstanding and yana”. Other well-received items “Death of a Soldier”, and regular Vic- experienced pianists. He also plays a included “You Do Something to Me” and torian Arts Centre concerts—the list mean trumpet! He has performed in “In a Persian Market”. It was a day of goes on. For instance, in 1996 they took Berlin as a member of the Steve superb traditional jazz, the function a standing ovation in front of a crowd of Magnusson Trio.