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Have a question? Contact Australian Jazz Museum
William H Miller's Ampersand R Series Label
William Henry 'Bill' Miller founded Ampersand Records in the 1940's to record Australian Jazz groups. Ampersand was the first specialist Australian jazz label and is significant for its collection and promotion of uniqely Australian jazz.
Ampersand record label
Eric Child (1910-1995) jazz aficionado and doyen of Australian jazz broadcasting. The head was a fixture in Eric Child's courtyard garden.
Eric Child's jazz programs ran for a record 30 years
Bronze Bust
eric child
William H Miller's XX Series Labels
Bill Miller started the XX label to provide local copies of American jazz recordings
XX Jazz Record label
xx records, william henry miller, double x records, double cross records
Letter proposing establishment of an Australian Jazz Convention after WW II.
Led to the development of the longest running Jazz Convention in the world from 1946 to the present day.
Letter from Ade Monsbourgh to C. Ian Turner proposing the establishment of an Australian Jazz Convention
ade monsbourgh, c ian turner, australian jazz convention
The brass cornet was owned by early Australian Jazz musician and multi-instrumentalist Benny Featherstone
Benny Featherstone is considered "one of the most fascinating and gifted musicians in the history of Australian jazz" (Johnson, Oxford Companion to Australian Jazz, p 154). Once described as "Australia's Louis Armstrong"
Buescher brass cornet
True tone. Pat. Oct 89.07 287335 LP 262 The Buescher Elkhart Ind. U.S.A.
benny featherstone, prince of good fellows, thirties, jazz musician, melbourne jazz musician, drummer, 1930 s, buescher cornet, trumpeter, trombonist, clarinetist, pianist, early australian jazz
Size of box is 6cm x 4cm In 1936, young Eric Child (1910-1995) met, and squired around London's jazz night-spots, Lucille Wilson a dancer in Lew Leslie's Blackbirds stage production at the Gaiety Theatre. Although Lucille knew a few famous bandleaders she, at that time, had never heard of Louis Armstrong, THE King of jazz, according to Eric. Later, in a letter to Eric in late 1942, Lucille wrote that she had met his King - and had become his fourth wife on 7th October 1942. She had finally worked with Louis at the new Cotton Club in Harlem in 1939 where she was in the chorus line using the stage name Brown Sugar. The long platonic friendship with Lucille remained and Eric and his wife Angela (1919-2001) welcomed her and the King in Brisbane on Louis' first visit to Australia in April 1956, and on all subsequent visits here. At a dinner at the Child's Sydney home Lucille presented Angela with one of Louis' famous stage handkerchiefs, signed by the All Stars, and a her own brooch and earrings, which Angela had quite innocently admired. Following Eric's death in 1995, Angela promised the Louis handkerchief to Bill Haesler and the brooch and earrings to Jess Haesler when she died. Rather than keeping these unique items private, the Haeslers donated them, in Angela's memory to the Victorian Jazz Archive.
A unique momento of jazz great Louis his wife Lucille Armstrong,and his Australian friends Eric and Angela Child.
Costume jewellery - Silver and cut glass brooch and ear rings
lucille armstrong, angela child, ear rings, brooch
Used on Ade Monsbourgh's Recorder in Ragtime album of 1956 described by Bruce Johnson as "a unique exercise in jazz on recorder."
The significance of this recorder lies in it being both an early example of recorder making in Australia and its connection with internationally recognised Australian jazz musician Ade Monsbourgh. The Pan company was the first to produce recorders in Australia. It was established by jazz musicians Ade Monsbourgh and Don Roberts in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn, Victoria in 1951. The company manufactured affordable wooden recorders for school students. Instruments such as this were made using local timbers and featured an innovative section of the mouthpiece (the block unit or windway) which was removable and made of plastic, possibly to allow easier cleaning to occur for the sake of hygiene. It is unknown in what numbers these instruments were made. Ade Monsbourgh (1917-2006) was one of Australia's pioneering jazz musicians especially in the period following World War 2 when he played in Graeme Bell's band. As a talented and influential saxophonist he toured several countries, as well as playing with other leading Australian musicians including Bob and Len Barnard. He was awarded an Order of Australia for his services to music in 1992. Don 'Pixie' Roberts (b.1917) was also an early figure in the Australian jazz scene from the 1930s and, in particular, the Australian Jazz Convention of 1946. He also played with Graeme Bell's band.
Alto Recorder belonging to Ade Monsbourgh
ade monsbourgh, alto recorder
Len Barnard's 'Soap Saver' Washboard
Len Barnard is a major contributor to Australian Jazz
Metal and timber 'Soap Saver' Washboard
National Washboard Co. Chicago Saginaw Memphis Soap Saver Trademark reg. U.S. Pat.Off. Made in U.S.A. No 198 Patent 1152766-1283148
soap saver washboard, washboard, len barnard, soap saver washboard, washboard, len barnard
Monsalvat Jazz Festival
A veritable Who's Who of the doyens of the Australian Jazz scene in the late 20th century notable for its inclusion of Margret Roadknight, the first jazz singer to be added to the Honour Roll, in 1991.
Varnished timber Honour Roll. Gold lettering.
Names of significant Australian jazz artists are listed on this Honour Roll.
montsalvat jazz festival
Poster sized Watercolor cartoon 16-18th February 2006
To the Victorian Jazz Archive with best wishes George Haddon May 2006
Played by Lou Silbereisen for recordings with Graeme Bell and His Australian Jazz Band in the late 1940s and 1950s. Played by Brian Carter from 1958 to the mid 1960s.
Boosey & Hawkes is a British music publisher. Until 2003, it was also a major manufacturer of brass, string and wind musical instruments.
Recording Brass Bass manufactured by Boosey & Hawkes circa 1930s. Played by Lou Silbereisen for recordings with Graeme Bell and His Australian Jazz Band in the late 1940s and 1950s. Played by Brian Carter from 1958 to the mid 1960s.
lou silbereisen, recording brass bass, boosey hawkes, graeme bell and his australian jazz band, brian carter
Trumpet which belonged to Roger Emerson Bell leading jazz trumpeter and composer who was a major influence on the development of a uniquely Australian Jazz form. He played with his brother Graeme Bell and also led his own groups.
Trumpet played by Australian Jazz musician Roger Bell through the mid to late 20th century
Silvered brass trumpet and mouthpiece with slight dent on rear
Engraved "Made by Henry Selmer - Paris Depose Grand Prix Geneve 1927 Liege 1930 Signed by maker Henry Selmer Place Dancourt, Paris Made in France" "Silver on Brass Serial # 6697 (engraved on second valve)"
roger bell, silver trumpet, henry selmer
Of special interest because of the illumination and artwork
Illuminated and illustrated Bass Drum belonging to Frank Mobilia
White swans swimming on a pond
frank mobilia, bass drum
Given to Ade Monsbourgh by the Grafton Saxophone Company UK, during the Bell Second Tour C1951-1952. Ade Monsbourgh is considered one of Australia's most original and influential jazz musicians and composers.
Rare Grafton acrylic plastic alto saxophone donated by the Grafton Saxophone Company UK, to Ade Monsbourgh during the Bell Second Tour C1951-1952
Rare cream-coloured Grafton acrylic plastic alto saxophone belonging Ade Monsbourgh together with mouthpiece
Embossed Made in England Patent # 604 407 604 418 John E. Dallas & Son Ltd Sole distributors. # 10147
ade monsbourgh, grafton saxophone, acrylic plastic saxophone
White cotton handkerchief used by Louis Armstrong in the 1956 film "High Society". Signed by members of his All Stars band on the 1956 tour of Australia and presented to Angela Child. Inscribed "Hello Angela Jack Lesberg" "To Angela from Louis Armstrong" "To Angela sincerely Lucille Armstrong" "To Angela Best Wishes Edmond Hall" "To Angela from Gary Crosby" "Valma Middleton" "Good luck to Angela Billy Kyle" "Good health Barrett Deems" "Rose Hardaway"
Possibly unique in having the autograph of Lucille Armstrong together with other band members.
White handkerchief signed by Louis Armstrong, Lucille Armstrong and other band members
Signatures of Louis Armstrong's band members
louis armstrong, lucille armstrong, eric child, angela child, bill haesler
The life and times of a legendary Melbourne musician who lived life with the brakes off. Arguably the first notable Australian jazz improvisor, he mastered many instruments - trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano. But most of all he was an excellent drummer. Throughout the thirties Benny played hot jazz in a multitude of bands, inspired perhaps by hearing the "hot Harlem rhythms" of the Ellingon and Armstrong bands in London during a 1933 visit
A 66 minute film remastered onto DVD-R of Benny Featherstone, a legendary Melbourne Musician, by Nigel Buesst. Housed in a DVD case with a photograph of a Featherstone band in front of a shell stage.
piano, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, benny featherstone, prince of good fellows, thirties, jazz musician, melbourne jazz musician, nigel buesst, dvd, drummer, 1930 s
The Fisk Jubilee Singers toured Australia in the late 1880s arriving at the Melbourne port of Williamstown on May 14, 1886, giving 80 concerts, their first performance being at the Melbourne Town Hall on June 7.
Rare hard cover book. Includes personal history of singers. Includes music and words to 128 songs. Preface to music written by Theo F. Seward.
jubilee singers, ella sheppard
Restored by Tony Newstead. Played by Dr Phil Law during the 1930s, "for dances and other functions, while teaching at Clunes, Talbot, Creswick, Learmonth, Newtown, Smeaton, and while teaching at Elwood (at Eltham, Gisborne and Sunbury." including on many of his expeditions to the Antarctic. Phil Law was a dedicated jazz reed player and band leader in his early years as a country school teacher. His brothers also played. Gift of Dr Phil Law - 1999. Dr Law died in Melbourne on 28 February 2010 at the age of 97.
Owned and played by Dr Phillip Garth (Phil) Law AC, CBE, for dances and other functions, while teaching during the 1930s, and on many of his 28 expeditions to the Antarctic.
Metal Silver B flat soprano saxophone made by V. Kohlert and Sons, Graslitz, Czechoslovakia. Circa 1920s. Mother of pearl keys, slight denting. Additional mouth piece.
On bell of saxophone "Kohlert Sons / Graslitz / Czechoslovakia" framed by flower and leaf motif
dr phil law, dr phillip law, soprano saxophone, kohlert and sons, kohlert sons, antarctic explorer, b flat soprano saxophone, silver instrument, reed instrument
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
