Galapagos Duck back at jazz club

IT WAS 1969 when Galapagos Duck first formed to play the winter season at The Kosciusko Ski Chalet in Charlotte Pass.

More than 40 years later, the legend continues with a series of performances in Queensland and the North Coast of NSW as part of their national tour.

Along with trailblazers like the late great Graeme Bell and then stars like Don Burrows, George Golla and James Morrison, Galapagos Duck put Australian jazz on the map.

They’ve won national and international awards, played everywhere from Asia to America and Europe (including the famed Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland) and influenced generations of young musicians through their live performances, volumes of original compositions and TV appearances.

After their stint in the snow in 1969, they returned to Sydney to take up a residency at The Rocks Push jazz club and soon after became ‘the house band’ at legendary venue The Basement.

The band’s line-up has changed from time to time over 40 years, but one of those originals who played The Basement gigs all those years ago is sax player Willy Qua.

Bass player/guitarist John Conley boasts a mere 33-year association with the band.

Other players in the current line-up include the accomplished and exciting drummer and vocalist Rodney Ford, the multi-talented Richard Booth (sax, clarinet, flute, bass and steel drum) and the flamboyant Wil Sargisson (keys) who was only born after the original Galapagos Duck had been playing The Basement for 11 years!

The band will perform on Friday, June 30 for the Toowoomba Jazz Society at North Toowoomba Bowls Club.

Meals are available from 6 to 7.15pm and the gig begins at 7.45.

Entry is $20 for visitors and $15 for members.

For further information please visit www.toowoombajazz.com or www.galapagosduck.net.