The following article about his musical career in
Australia was written by Ken McColm and sent to the webmaster
in October 2010. It has been edited very slightly for the
website.
A
Saxophonist in Australia
*****
When I moved to
the central Victorian country town of Alexandra, which is an
almost unspoilt (by tourists) farming area, mainly sheep and
cattle, with a few olive growers and cherry
orchards, I thought that my musical endeavours would
come to an end. I had had a good long innings. I starting my
professional career three years years BE (before Elvis).
How wrong can you be?
*****
The first
Christmas I was asked to play cornet at the local Christmas
"Carols by candle light". I agreed, saying that I was not too
hot on Cornet; just a little better than I was on
Bagpipes, although I did not tell them that. I was
essentially, a woodwind player. When I arrived to play I
saw that they had fifteen players and no conductor. I was at
the time still Musical Director of the Croydon brass band in
Melbourne where I had previously lived. I offered my services
with the baton, which they gladly accepted. This
was the start of me changing bands from Melbourne to
Alexandra. I have now conducted Alexandra for 7 years - the
same length of time that I was at Croydon.
*****
Many of the bars
and pubs in Victoria have an open jam session on a Sunday
afternoon; some are jazz, some Blues, and others any
style. I started going to the local sessions and
gradually found the better ones and so that way I met a few of
the local musicians, this led to a few gigs some paid,
some not.
*****
Whether I got
paid or not no longer mattered, I had gone full circle, I was
back doing it for fun as I had started out as a teenager,
before children and mortgages meant I had to earn. My own
enjoyment is my only criterion now. If I do not enjoy the gig
or the people in the band, I will finish it that night to the
best of my ability, but you will not get me back not
even for a good fee. For a huge fee I would think about
it!
*****
I kept my place
in the Melbourne based Count Basie style big band, "Out For
The Count", that I had been playing with for a while for a
couple of years after I moved. However I found the
130 kms each way journey too hard after working all week
in Melbourne as an instrumental teacher. So I left them, but I
rejoined when I finally (almost) retired. I still teach one
day a week at two schools, one teaching autistic children how
to play woodwind and brass, and the same at a very small
country primary school.
*****
My nickname
amongst the Melbourne musical circles is "Moosh".
I joined a full time Rock and Roll band when I first came to
Australia in 1972, and Ken, although a great name for a Scot’s
singer, is not too hot for a RR sax player. At the time
the UK show 'The Sweeny' was on television and they often used
the term Moosh (face). It suited me so "Moosh" I
became. Even today I am known as "Moosh" by Melbourne’s
Jazz and Blues players.
*****
Every year Jill
and I have a get together with many of our musical friend the
first weekend after New Years Eve. That weekend when there is
not a lot of work for pro muso’s and so we get the better
musicians as well as beginners. It has become
known as "Mooshstock"
*****
In November
2010. I was asked to play tenor sax for an American soul
blues singer touring Australia from Memphis, Barbara Blue. She
has a great voice and I looked forward to performing
at the Victorian gigs of her tour.
*****
It has been said
that when they go to bury me I will push the lid off the
coffin and play one last honking R and B solo - we will have
to wait and see for that.
****
Ken
McColm (2010)
