[Dixielandjazz] Re Bio`s

[ross anderson]

I was born in Melbourne , Australia October 1934.
My first memories are from Echuca / Moama on the border of Victoria and New
South Wales.
My mother played piano and dad could whistle a mean tune.
Around the age of nine I was sent to have piano lessons.
I conned my piano teacher to play a tune for me and by the following week I
could play the tune. One day he asked me to point to where I was on the
music , I pointed half way down page 2, but should have pointed to half way
down page 3 ,
I couldn`t read the music and can`t to this day! The teacher said I was
wasting his time and my mothers` money, so no more lessons for me!
Between the ages of 12 and 16 I sang in a quartet of 2 girls and 2 boys put
together by Stan Anderson (no relation) and we sang in all the country towns
in the area.
Stan played in the local dance band as well as being an alround entertainer
, In 1953 he worked in a shop and I was a carpenters apprentice in Echuca
,Stan formed quartet ,Piano
,Cornet , Bass and Drums. Their first gig was on the Friday Night  "The
Spinsters Ball" .
I couldn`t wait till Monday to find out how it went . Disaster had occurred
, the Bass man had got drunk , abused the head Spinster and was sacked from
the quartet and Stan had no idea where to find a replacement. The words came
out of my mouth,"I would like to have a go at the Bass".
The next night Stan bought an old bass round to my place and spent a couple
of hours showing me how to hold down the strings to get a note . I played my
first gig the following Saturday Night . During the performance I saw blood
on the floor - I had strummed my fingers nearly to the bone . That is how I
started playing bass. We would travel up to 120miles to and from towns to
gigs, get home next morning where mum would have breakfast ready, I showered
and went straight off to my day job. That`s youth for you!!!!
I joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a carpenter in 1956,
and in 1966 went to Vietnam. I was in the RAAF for 12 years,
during this time I played in Groups in Sydney, Melbourne,Perth, Darwin and
Townsville.
Back in Melbourne in 1968 I formed a jazz trio , playing in pubs,
then in 1974 I joined the famous Storyville Allstars,eventually leaving them
in 1981 to form my own band, The New Melbourne Jazz Band.We had our first
trip to the USofA to Sacromento 1984 and since then have been 14 times to
USAand Canada to perform at major jazz festivals.We have also played in
Singapore,Hong Kong,Bahrian and Vanuatu as well as all around Australia.
The N.M.J.B. has been support act on many occasions to visiting
international bands such as "Acker Bilk","The Ducth Swing College Jazz Band"
and "Kenny Ball Jazz Band".
In 1997, I was the Musical Director of the Marvellious Melbourne Jazz
Festival which featured many International and local jazz bands,
As well as being leader of the New Melbourne Jazz Band I have designed and
hand craft the "Anderson Bass" (a travel Bass see home page below).
Over the 50 plus years I have been involved in music , it has been a magical
ride and I have met and work with lots of wonderful people , and I sincerely
thank you ALL .
Ross Anderson.
the NMJB web site address is http://home.iprimus.com.au/rossjazz/

Anderson bass link is http://home.iprimus.com.au/rossjazz/Double_Bass.htm