Search - Australian Jazz Quintet :: At the Varsity Drag

High Quality Transcription of Rare 1950s Jazz LP

James W. Beauchamp | Urbana, Illinois USA | 03/14/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a high quality copy of the Australian Jazz Quartet LP which was originally recorded in 1956. The group, consisting of Bryce Rohde, piano; Erroll Buddle, bassoon and tenor sax; Dick Healy, flute and alto sax; Jack Brokensha, vibes; Jimmy Gannon, bass; and Frank Capp, drums; is top-notch. The group only recorded about eight albums during the years 1955 to 1958, but they were quite popular during this time, appearing on U.S. national television shows and touring with Dave Brubeck and Gerry Mulligan and many other famous jazz musicians of this period. I saw the AJQ, Mulligan, and Brubeck groups at a concert together in Jackson, Michigan in 1956. For live performances it was just the original men: Rohde, Buddle, Healy, and Brokensa. With Healy and Buddle's flute and bassoon alternating with their alto and tenor sax plus Brokensha's unique vibes style, the group had a unique, almost baroque sound, which is very easy on the ears but still stimulating jazz nevertheless. It has been compared to the Modern Jazz Quartet, but they were quite different. I only wish the rest of the AJQ albums would be transcribed to CD. Good quality copies of their LPs are hard to find and are very expensive."

Kudos to these fantastic musicans

Joseph L. Basile | Whiting, New Jersey USA | 12/11/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes,these guys are incredibly talented musicians of yesteryear.I'm hoping that they're still with us to gather up all this love and praise. The first time I heard this group in 1957, I could not believe the "cool"sounds and awesome arrangements on bassoon and oboe and the multiple instruments they
play.If you think this CD is great,you must purchase the other CD titled [ Austrailian Jazz Quartet[import] You will dig sounds such as: Spring is here, Have you met Miss Jones,April in Paris and other great standards done in that cool AJQ sound.One of my favorites is Tune for Jaimey.
Hey!! you're gonna need more stars for this jazz group"

AJQ

RONALD C WOLFF | SOUTH LYON, MICHIGAN USA | 07/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First saw and heard AJQ in 1956 at Ben's Continental in Norfolk, Va. Their unique jazz sounds with basoon, flute, vibes, etc. were fresh and hip. Saw them again in 1957 in Detroit, after being discharged from the U.S. Navy (reason for being in Norfolk,Va.). They were at Club Cliche. I'm very happy to see one of their albums out. I'm looking for the one with Autumn in New York."