I have been presenting a fortnightly Thursday Jazz Lunch since joining 5MBS in February 2023. 

I became a Jazz Presenter after hearing a call on 5MBS looking for more Jazz Presenters hoping that, after 50 years of being a Jazz Musician, I just might be able to use that knowledge for the listeners’ benefit.  

I trained in Classical Pianoforte and obtained an Associate Diploma in Theory of Music through the Trinity College of Music, London. However, I threw it all away when, at a Scout Music camp, they didn’t have a Double Bass player, but I knew the basics of playing the instrument after years of watching my father backing most of the International Acts that came to Adelaide.  

Once home from that camp my father signed me up with the Musicians Union and threw me in the deep-end backing Floorshows, playing Jingles, Dinner-dance & Vaudeville gigs that my father couldn’t fit into his hectic schedule.  

In the early 1980s I was invited to join the Adelaide Syncopators by Trumpeter Alex Frame, Trombonist John Pickering and Saxophonist Bob Cruikshanks, and thus started my journey into Jazz.  

I have performed all around Australia with local and interstate Jazz bands of all genres at gigs, Festivals & Jazz Conventions. 

I really enjoy the research that goes into presenting a successful program. My favourite musician would have to be Bassist Ray Brown. As a 15 year old, I got to meet him and to play Ray’s Bass. 

When not at 5MBS or preparing programs , I spend my time renovating my  daughter’s house, watching my grandson play Basketball, teaching my granddaughter how to play her favourite dance tunes on the piano and finding forgotten Verses to Jazz Standards as well as TV Themes, then transcribing them for my Festival & Jazz Convention band, Just Jazz, to perform.