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ISSUE NUMBER 8 - JULY 2000CEArr^I\IAN' S REPORT

The Archive, your Archive, is nowreaching a major stage in itsdevelopment. We have battledthrough the first round, fund raising,the scrounging for furniture, floorcoverings, equipment and doing alarge amount of sheer physical work

Now we have secure storage in thecontainers, adequate treatment areas,primary data input computers, areference library plus public accesscomputers, video and CD playingcapacity. At the heart of theoperation is a well equipped re-recording studio with digital audiotape equipment and a CD burnerAlso in this area is a high capacitycomputer with printer and scannerthat houses our data base

Operation acetate is forging aheadwith some 75 CDS cut, in dudingmajor holdings in pristine conditionfrom Bill Miller, Mary Traior andothers

Many of you will have heard RogerBenby's session on 3CR on SaturdayI July (GST day!). From the remarksJohn Kerniedy, Tom Wantiss and I

willmade between the tracks youknow that the Archive stiU needs a

great deal of helpWhat is oathned above sounds

great but we sinl have only 150o r d i n a r y ineinbers an d

$4,000 in operating funds. Itcosts about $9,000 a year to operatethe Archive. Subscribers producearound $3,000 and our invested$30,000 capital yields about $1,600So we battle each year to bridge the$4,400 gap; we must have moremembers and donation support

a* Y. J, ^,!2:21'QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF T}XE VICTORIAN JAZZ ARC}UVE

PATRON : Wit, LIAM H Nor, LER M. A. BC. L. (OXON. )P. O Box 442 As}IBURTON VICTORIA 3147

REGISTERED OFFICE. 12 HollynewooD COURT ROSAN}.!A VICTORIA 3084REGISTERED NO: A0033964L ABN. 53531 132426

EDITOR. Join RinPN

In addition we need -

* Further vital equipment(minimum $10,000);

* Help to managepublic interfaceTuesdays and Fridays;

* The backing of jazzmusicians and bands if

only to donate their CDS;* Help with the setting up

of our major exhibitionin connection with the

Melbourne International

Jazz Festival (opens IDecember 2000); and

* Help in putting materialon the data base, using afairly straightforward fistof instructions (even 2hours is a substantial

help).

VJA WINS CONSERVATION

AWARD

"Acetate Action", an initiative set upby the VIA for the transferring of agingacetate discs to CD-R for preservationand public access, has won a covetedMuseum Industry Recognition Award2000 for Conservation, at a recentInternational Museum Day awardspresentation

Ray Marginson, Chairman, and JohnKerniedy, Curator received the awardfrom the Honorable Mary Delahunty,MLA, Minister for the Arts andEducation, (see photo) who has showninterest in visiting the Archive in thenear future. The Executive Director of

Museums Australia (Vic. ), Ms lessicaFrean writing in the MelbourneHerald - Sun, described the Archive as"displaying the ingredients of a healthy,robust museum. Most of the group ismade up of retired jazz musicians who

and preserving Jazzare copying

recordings from across Australia""Acetate Action" has now reached

the point where over 75 CD-R discscontain some I 00 hours of Australian

jazz recordings, maimy from single oneoff acetate recordings, dating back to

To Page 2

the

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Please help us get the member-ship numbers up and give us a bitof your time at Wantirna. Ring me(98536633), John Rippin(98944935) or John Kennedy (0412867587).

Inside this issue:

Page 2 : VJA news and events;new members & Life members.

Page 3 : Book and record reviews.Page 4 : Recent Donations.

RAY MARGINSON

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JAZZ ExEmrriONAs mentioned in the last VIAZZ

newsletter, from I December, 2000 to25 February 2001 the Victorian JazzArchive will be mounting a jazzexhibition at the Arts Centre, St. KildaRoad Gallery, in conjunction withPerforming Arts Museum,Screensound Australia, and theMelbourne international Jazz Festival.

The Performing Arts MuseumCurator, Ms Margaret Marshall, willprofessionalIy curate the exhibition,with the provisional working title of"Mdboume - Cradle of Australian

Jazz", and the possibitity of touring toTheCanberra later in 2001

exhibition win be focussed on the

strengths of the Archive's collection,namely musical instruments,p h o t o g r a p h s, p o st e rs an dmemorabilia. Sound, video, slides anddata base demonstrations win be

available. Unique for this type ofe, diibition win be the inclusion of livemusic at the weekends, in the fomi ofsolo piano, and sriiall groups. Thevenue would not be suitable for largergroup pertornmnces. The NovemberVIAZZ newsletter win contain all the

details, so Innke sure you come andsee the VIA conection displayed at its

11<very best.

REGISTRAnON AND

ACCREDITAnON

The Archive was successful in Maywith its application to MuseumsAustralia (Vic. ) to become aregistered museum. A lengthy anddetailed subintssion outlining thestructure and purpose of the Archive,along with correction and preservationprocedures, was presented andaccepted

Following registration there is athree year period to attainaccreditation by May 2003. Theaccreditation procedure entails themoultorlng by the museum industryof the workings of the Archive, and itscontinued pursuit of higherconservation and preservationstandards, and includes the upgradingof public facilities. Accreditation winhopefully give greater access to StateGovernment funding, and theemployment of a paid part time

11<Curator.

NEW MEMBERS

Performing Arts Museum; LeeTreanor; Monie Clarke; MargeBunte; Brentoii, Suzama and BrockCoombs; Margaret kicketts; hadrewThornpson & faintly; Neil Murray &farmy; and Frank Dualop.

CONSERVATTON AWARDFrom Page I

1942. Ninety-five per cent of theserecordings have never been issuedcommercially, and the core of theprogram has been the transfer of theacetate collection of our Patron,With am H Miller, comprising 320sides of valuable heritage Australianjazz recordings. Many local andinterstate collectors have forwarded

further copies on loan for transfer,thus presenting a wide range ofperformances now safely preserved

11<for the future.

L^'E MEMBERS

Nigel Buesst; Kiin Hams; Sani.Meekin; Evelyne Perks; Briari Brown;and Ron Halstead.

VISITORS

Now the Archive is open to thepublic two days a week (Tuesday andFriday -loam to 3pm) there has beena constant stream of visitors to viewthe Archive. at work. In the last twomonths, notable visitors haveincluded, Roger Bell, AdeMonsbourgli, Frank Johnson (fromNoosa), Adrian Jackson, MartinJackson, Eric Myers, Diana Allen, andalso Mal EUstice, Parn Swanson andAmo Ramp from AdelaideMusicians Graeme Fender and IcySandalIt have been using the facihtiesof the Reference Library for research

From ScreensoundpurposesAustralia in Canberra, Ian Galmour,Preservation Manager, and Jane VanBalen, Australian Jazz ArchiveConnection Management, were veryinterested and welcome visitors

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EQlllPMENT DONATTONSOUT Membership Coordinator, Liz

Cume, has kindly donated a videorecorder, in excement condition, forthe Reference Library, plus a coffeepercolator to supplement theworkers' caffeine fix

Ashley Keating, of LouisianaShakers fame, has gonerously donateda CD player to be used in the PublicAccess area of the LibraryRon Halstead, our intrepid

has donated acomputer manager,Canon SLR camera and copyingstand, to be used in the yet-to-be-completed photgraphic roomy so thatobjects (awards etc. ), LP covers, canbe photographed for transfer of theimage to the database. We will alsobe able to copy deteriorating photosfor archiving

NEW GRAEME BELL CD AVAIL, ABLE SOONThrough the good o^ces of ETic Brown the Victorian Jazz Archive has gained the opportunity of importing himted stocks of

a new CD due for issue in the us late this month (July). The disc is being issued on the Harlequin label under the titleCineme Bell and his Australian Jam Band - The Unheard Titles of 1948. There are 20 tracks in all, from sessions inApril, May and June 1948, including nuny alten^te takes, rerunstered by John R T Davies and with notes by Jim Godbolt.

Prices and availability wim be notified as soon as infomiation is to hand.

RECENT DONATTONSFrom Page 4

Lee Treanor has loaned for copyingacetates of the Yama Yama Jazz Band

with Keri Colyer, and also the ChinarQuartet.

Martin Jackson, Melbourne JazzCO-OP Coordinator, spent a fewhours at the Archive recently, and lefta number to posters and tee slims,with a pronxise to alert contemporarymusicians and conectors about theArchive in his newsletter.

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RECORD nevusWS

T}IE RAY PRICE QUARTET inconcert Amtidale NSW 03-08-65

Ray Price, by; Bruce Johnstone, bar, c,as, f; King Fisher, t; Col Nolan, p.Jack nutcheM Fun-00 I

This is one of several CDS avallable to

members from the VIA ($25 incl GSTand post). It is really a 'must have' foranyone with a liking for the jazz thatRay Price gave us in the years from1947 until his death in 1990

Recorded live in Am tidale, thesession contains a wide variety ofmaterial, 12 tracks in all, and the firstimpression is that Col Nolan is a greatrhythm pianist; the beat that heproduces, backed by Ray Price's solidbanjo, is enonnous

We are lucky this session has beenpreserved. King Fisher and BruceJohnstone are both excellent in their

respective roles JR

AUSTRALIAN TRADITIONAL JAZZPIANO - GRA}IAM COYLE Solos and

Duets, with Simon Stribling, FreddyParkes, Joe Stevenson and John Withers

Recorded inNo catalogue numberOctober 1998

Also avallable to members from the VIA

($25 incl GST and post) this CD, issued byGrabam himself; contains 18 glorioustracks in which he shows what a master ofhis craft he is

Grailam acknowledges the fact that "IeUyRoll monopolised my musical developmentfor years in my early 20s", and thus thereare five Motton compositions here"Kansas City Stomp", "Mr. Joe", "SpanishTinge" "Sweet Substitute" and "Tom CatBlues". In these 5 tracks Graham is

supported by John Withers on banjo on I,2 and 4, while Joe Stevenson plays basssax and clarinet on 5

There is a group of three Fats Wariertunes - "kiri't Msbehavin"' "Black and

Blue" "My Fate is in Your Hands" andalso a Waner Medley comprising "AHundred Years From Today", "My VeryGood Friend The Milkman" and "I've Got

My Fingers Crossed", all three of whichhave some fine trumpet solos, both mutedand open, by Simon Shibhng. The last ofthese tracks, with Sinnon's fively openhorn , especially in the closing stages, is agem. Shades of Eijis Larkins and RubyBratf.

Grailam's other mall influence, Earl

nines, is represented by "Blues in Thirds"and "You Can Depend On Me"

Freddy Parkes adds his inmittable clarinetsound to "Robins and Roses" and abeautiful rendition of "When You Wish

Upon a Star', while other tracks are"Embraceable You", "Easy Living" (whata great tune!), "Yancey Revisited" (atribute by Grainni), "I'm CoiningVirginia", and the foal one, "MuskratRainb^' described by Grabam as "a briefromp around this war-horse in a couple ofkeys" with the assistance of John Withers

Graham says in his notes "an hour'sdump of piano music can be deadly, so Iinvited some musicians to pertomi duets tobe placed here and there to give listeners abreak". To which I would say that he hadno need to worry, for an hour ofGratinin' s solo piano is a great pleasure,and the addition of the supportingmusicians simply increases the enjoymentof this connection

TIE PORT JACKSON JAZZ BAND

Sydney , 1958Conective personnel: Keri Flamery, t;Dick Hughes, p, v; Ray Price, bj, g,dg; Harry rimn^ sb, bb; poss. PatRose, John McCarthy, c; BinyWeston, to; Frank Coughlari, tb, fii, t,v (tracks 7-16 only); John Sangster,101mny Blevins, d.Jack Mitchell Fun. 002

BOOK REVIEW

The Melody Maker History of 20thcentury Popular MusicNick Johnstone - Hard Cover

Bloomsbury $49.95

Melody Maker, first published in 1926and still going, at first a monthly andlater a weekly, once was requiredreading for jazz collectors. Edited byEdgar Jackson (who wrote at first alarge proportion of the contents, andalso produced jazz record sessions), itcontained record reviews and news ofmusical events in Brltaln and elsewhere

Its masthead proudly proclalmed that itwas "The only independent Magazinefor all who are directly or indirectlyinterested in the production of PopularMusic". Of course before and duringthe Second World War 'popular music"induded jazz, swing, dance music, smallbands, big bands, blues singers andother vocalists, so in those days MelodyMaker was a useful source of jazzinfonnation

But from the jazz point of view thisbook is a disappointment. The firstthree chapters: I. The Late Arrival ofthe Jazz Age : 1926-34; 2. The SwingEra : 1935-45; and 3. Hail Be-Bop!:194655, covering 88 of the 398 pages,are interesting enough in spite of theauthor' s tiresome literary style ofquoting fledy from what snellrs likeevery issue. After that it's all doom him.The Rock '"' 1.0" Years: 1956-62;The Beatles and The Stones: 1963-

69; through to Grunge, Rap and theNew Dance Culture: 1990-94 and

BritPop and the New Pop Explosion:1994-98 contain little of interest apartfrom the occasional mention of a jazzpersonality (namy mes Davis, oddlyenough)

If anyone ready wants to read thisbook, it's in the VIA library. JR

Another item available to members

from the VIA ($25 incl GST andpost), this was recorded by a solicitorand jazz full, Dick Vale, at variousvenues. As Jack Mitchell says in hisnotes "although Dick did a inaneUousjob in recording this music. . . .he failedto keep full deralls of the personneland dates of recording"

It mutters not. This is great jazz,particularly the tracks with FrankCoughlan, which were recorded at theArts Ball at the Trocadero on

November 7,1958.The irrepressible Dick Huglies is

there on piano (and occasionalvocals), and John McCarthy ondimet. It all brings back some happymemories

On this disc, as on the previous one,there are some sudden endings toseveral tracks, but it doesn't really

JRmutter.

A NOTE FROM THE I^DrTOR

Following John Kerniedy' s resignationfrom the position of Secretary, in orderto give more time to his duties ascurator, I have taken on that job andwith it the production of this newsletter

JR

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CASE DONAnONS

Royston Coldicott; Emberh Dorre;Max Marginson; Ray Marginson; WalMobilia; William H Miner; DeslysMillil, GII; and John Rippin

RECENT DONATIONSOver the last three months there

has been a flood of donations to the

Archive, keeping the staffexceedingly busy, but nevertheless itis a very satisfying experience toknow that the Archive now has the

confidence and support of the jazzWhilst all donationsfraternity

are important to the Archive, somecollections given to us are of greatsignificance in the overall history ofAustralian jazz

In April, Mike Hancock and JackieDas-Gupta arrived at Wantirna fromAnglesea with a utility truckcrammed with the memorabilia of I I

years of the Limerick Arms HotelJazz Club, including recordings,tapes, posters, diaries, programs,band promotional material etc

hundreds ofIncluded are

photographs, many framed andmounted, of the jazz artists,Australian and overseas, whoappeared at the Limerick ArmsThose members, who attended thiswonderful venue over the years, andaccepted Mike and Jackie'shospitality, will have treasuredmemories of the array of musicianswho performed there. Needless to

the Archive thanks Mike andsay

Jackie for donating such a large sliceof Melbourne'siam history

On his recent overseas venture to

the USA, Ron Halstead acceptedfrom James S lones, of RanchoPalos Verdes, Calf. , the Australianjazz collection of the late ShannonClarke. This collection comprises 85tape recordings made by Shamon inAustralia and Hawaii of Australian

groups in the 21 years he came toattend the Australian Jazz

Conventions, before his death inInterestingIy there are four1998

tapes of the Bob Bamard Quartetrecorded at a bar in Hawaii. Special

thanks to Ron, who picked up the tabfor the considerable freight cost, andto James

Last issue we reported the donationfrom the Bruce Chalk Estate, by hiswidow Margo Chalk, and family, of73 books for the Reference LibraryIn May, Margo donated a further 502audio cassette tapes with relevantcatalogues, all annotated in Bruce'sneat handwtiting. Other donations ofbooks have come from Truda 01son,John Rippin, Jack Ricketts, PatO'Connor and Ray Bradley

Roger Beilby, in the nxiddle of hisrecent "Jazz On Saturday" 3CRprogram devoted exclusively to theArchive, donated an icon ofAustralian jazz in the form of AdeMonsbourgh's white plastic alto

Also Librarian TomsaxophoneWantiss accepted 46 magazines and 2programs for the Reference LibraryThanks to Roger for allowing RayMarginsori, John Kerinedy and Tom tobe involved in the program, and forthis important donation

retiredNeil Murray, n OW

professional photographer, hasdonated his wonderful collection of

Australian jazz photos andaccompanying negatives. All thegreat photos of the early AustralianJazz Conventions have the Neil

Murray byline, and the Archive will beof these in theusing many

forthcoming Jazz Exhibition AlsoNeil left 14 copies of the booklets forthe "Time-Life" series

Diana Allen, of Jazz Australia, and avery staunch supporter of the Archive,recently called to see the Archive atwork, and left donations of black &white 35nrrn slides used in the "Return

to the Uptown Club". Also books,magazines, photographs and a full setof "Jazz Australia" Newsletters datingback to 1985

Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgibbon

recently donated material pertainingto her brother, Graham "Smacka"Fitzgibbori, including photographs,cuttings, and CDS

John Sharpe, of Canberra, andNANC delegate, forwarded on behalfof the Ed Rollgejsr estate, posters,programs, badges, and recordings ofMelbourne groups playing inCanberra

Dents King of Roselands, NSW,sent a tape of a Duke FameU radio

"An Affectionate Look atprogram

Frank Coughlan"Jack Litchield, Canada, sent two

DAT tapes of unissued CTaeme Bellmaterial, from their trips to us andFrance. Also from overseas, GeorgeHUIme (ER), sent two copies of "JustJazz" magazine featuring articles andphotos of the Graeme Bell Bandplaying at the RAF base at Yatesburyin November 1947 ETic Brown

loaned for transfer, two reel to reeltapes, of the Yarra Yarra Jazz Bandwith Wild Bill Davison, and a churchservice organised by Nick PontesETic also forwarded from the Dick

and Shiney House Collection, 61copies of the "Quarterly Rag"; 74copies of the VJC Jazzline" magazineand two colour photos, one of whichshows Shiney with Joinrriy Dodds'SOIL Rudolph

Victorian Jazz Club Members had a

special day at the Archive in May, anddonations were received from Geoff

Piaw, Colin Martin, Bob Ashworth,Man Arm Patterson, Jolm Conheady

Musicians to donate their own CDS,posters, etc have been, from Perili,WA, Damy Moss and wife leadeLamb, who have been naturalisedAussies for a number of years, andlocal contemporary pianist Iex

Jex has been using theSaarelaht

Reference Library for a researchproject in which he is currentlyengaged To Page 2

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Tnn VICTORIAN JAZZ ARCHIVE

Is OPEN EACH TUESDAY

AND FRmAY

10:00 am To 3:00 pmOR BY APPOINTMENT

WEB SITE: Ram'. vieneLaiul^. jamrehEmail: Tiararch@vienet. net. .u

< S U A IFF. *:$1, ~:* !,,, t, *. .

VICTORIA O O ..^,*,""

.,\A

VICTORIA

DONATIONS OF $2 AND OVER MADE To

THE VICTORIAN JAZZ ARC^E Inc. AXE

TAX DEDUCTIBLE

Ref NO DGR 900444123

coxcLUDEs humusERsine SUBSCRwrioNs)

VICTORIA "".^

VICTORIAN JAZZ ARCIUVE Inc.

REPOSITORY & OFnCE

15 MOUNTAIN menwAY w^TERNA

VICTORIA 3152

PHONE (03) 9800 5535CURATOR : MOBILE 04/2867587

Ema": viaza, reh@vieneLnet. au

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THE MYER FOUNDATION