The Australian Jazz Quartet (AJQ), also known by the Australian Jazz Quintet was a jazz group that was active in the 1950s. It is best known for its collaborations with Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck and Carmen McRae. Three Australians and an American formed the group in 1953. It was unique in that the group featured a vibraphone, flute, and bassoon along with more traditional jazz instruments like the piano, bass, saxophone, saxophone and drums. Between 1952 and 1953, Errol Buddle (bassoon) and Bryce Rohde (“piano”) arrived in Windsor (Canada). Jack Brokensha (vibraphone u0026 percussion) was also a member of the group. They had planned to form a tour group to visit the US but visa problems prevented them from doing so. Instead, they settled for local work in Windsor. Phil McKellar, CBE Windsor’s Jazz DJ, organized for the trio to record radio programs. Brokensha and Rohde also performed at the Killaney Castle downtown Windsor. Brokensha appeared in Detroit on WXYZ-TV and was granted employment visas. This allowed the musicians to travel to the USA. They met American (b. 1929, Youngstown, OH) Richard J. 1929, Youngstown, OH) Richard J. The group was first featured on “Soupy’s On”, a Detroit WXYZ-TV program. In 1954, comedian Soupy Sale recommended the group to Ed Sarkesian[1]. He invited Chris Connor to join him for two weeks at the club (Rouge Lounge, River Rouge in a Detroit suburb). Between each set, the group performed. Healey and Rohde immediately made arrangements for the flute/bassoon/vibes combo, as Buddle had been regularly playing bassoon with the Windsor Symphony. This gave the group its distinctive sound. The unusual instrumentation attracted a lot of interest from jazz fans, as well as classical music lovers. During his two-week engagement, Sarkesian contacted Joe Glaser from the Associated Booking Corporation in New York. Sarkesian renamed the group The Australian Jazz Quartet/Quintet based on a quick-recorded 78 disc. He was awarded a five year contract with ABC and Bethlehem Records. Sarkesian became the group’s manager and was soon a prominent promoter of jazz concerts. The new arrangement with ABC saw the AJQ perform at the Blue Note in Chicago[3] as well as a concert in Washington DC. With the Dave Brubeck Quartet and the Modern Jazz Quartet. They began to play at clubs such as The Hickory, Birdland, [4] Basin Street and the Roundtable in New York.
