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BEACHHEAD came into being in early 1980 when it was heard that Kings Cross (Sydney) nightclub, La BASTILLE required a band for its midnight to dawn slot on Friday and Saturday nights. The venue also doubled as a coffee bar and brothel with the audience often including many 'ladies of the night' between jobs.
Mainly, it played to the usual collection of late night drinkers, but became a favourite with other musicians. Usually those who had just finished their own gigs in other parts of town and were in for last drinks to wind down before going home to bed.
For the next two years the band played at a number of different venues in both Sydney and Wollongong. At one stage holding residencies simultaneously at SONIA'S in the Leichhardt Hotel, FRENCH'S TAVERN in Darlinghurst, La BASTILLE and the WENTWORTHVILLE Hotel in Sydney's outer-western suburbs.
Since that time there have been many different line-ups, with one particular combination performing as BEACHHEAD's BLUES staying together from around August 1993, when it recorded five tracks released on a cassette in December that year, until January 1996 and gaining a huge following as it toured up and down the east coast. From Agnes Waters, north of Bundaberg in Queensland, as far south as Portland, a town on the south western coast of Victoria, just short of the South Australian border.
The current variation has been together since around August 1996 (excepting a change of guitarist) and has played a number of venues in Sydney, among them the HARBOUR VIEW Hotel in the Rocks, the UNITY HALL Hotel in Balmain, the 'Sydney Blues Club' at the EMPIRE of ANNANDALE Hotel, Rydge's CRONULLA BEACH Hotel and the JANNALI INN.
Outside of the metropolitan area it has performed at the KURRAJONG HEIGHTS Hotel, the HOTEL GEARINS at Katoomba, the GRAND CENTRAL, the TATTERSALL'S and the COMMERCIAL Hotels, all in Lithgow, the COMMERCIAL Hotel in Wallerawang, the CORONATION Hotel in Portland (N.S.W.), the OXFORD TAVERN & FAMILY Hotels in Bathurst and, more recently the ROYAL Hotel in Oberon.
In 1997 it performed at the prestigious MANLY JAZZ FESTIVAL, in 1998 at the Annual DUBBO JAZZ FESTIVAL (performing at both the Castlereagh & Civic Hotels) and in January 1999 was part of the programme for the 6th Annual THREDBO BLUES LEGENDS FESTIVAL.
Since then the band has also played a three-nighter in Canberra at the HOLY GRAIL Restaurant & Bar, during the inaugural BATHURST JAZZ FESTIVAL at the Family Hotel in June 1999 and packed the house at the METROPOLITAN HOTEL in Orange when it performed there for the Orange Jazz Club in July 1999.
BEACHHEAD plays its own brand of R'n'B, sticking close to the roots, but making the music just that bit more accessible to those in the audience who are likely to ask,“So, what is blues, anyway?"
The MEMBERS are:
Rod (Beachhead) Jeffery - Vocals/Leader.
Born - Guildford NSW (Australia), June 14th 1952.
Rod has been singing professionally since 1973 and is regarded by both his fans and musical peers alike as being one of the finest blues singers in the country. He has been described by Dr. (A.J.) Bruce Johnson, jazz trumpeter and author of the 'OXFORD COMPANION to AUSTRALIAN JAZZ', as singing "the most heartfelt version, since the original was done by Billie Holiday" of the classic jazz tune, 'GOD BLESS THE CHILD', which appears on the recent U.K./U.S.A./Japan release of the CD album, 'Tony Barnard's ALL HAT JAZZ'.
Recorded in Sydney in 1990 and receiving a great deal of airtime and acclaim on the BBC jazz programs, the album also features Rod on two other tracks, both written by himself, that also appear on the BEACHHEAD's BLUES cassette (full versions of several tacks can be heard on the band's Website) released locally, and independently, in Australia in December 1993.
He is renowned for having a five octave vocal range (a rarity) and over the past few years he is singing better than ever before.
Among his own personal appearances are, MANLY JAZZ FESTIVAL (1985/86/90/97), MELBOURNE HOMEGROWN BLUES FESTIVAL (1989/90), THREDBO JAZZ FESTIVAL (1990/95), POWERS' 'BIG RIVER' MUSIC FESTIVAL - BRISBANE (1991/92), the MAZDA MONTSALVAT JAZZ FESTIVAL - MELBOURNE (1992/93), PARKES JAZZ TRIDUUM (1987/88/92), LITHGOW BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL (1993/94/95), the EAST COAST BLUES FESTIVAL - Byron Bay (1994), the inaugural GRAFTON JAZZ & BLUES FESTIVAL (1994), WANGARATTA FESTIVAL of JAZZ & BLUES (1994), THREDBO BLUES MUSIC FESTIVAL (1995/99) the DUBBO JAZZ FESTIVAL (1998) & the inaugural BATHURST JAZZ FESTIVAL (1999).
While in Melbourne for the 1989 Homegrown Blues Festival, Rod was asked to appear in an episode of the legendary ABC-TV music program 'Jazz AZ NOW' dedicated specifically to 'Blues' and featuring both himself and African-American singer, Larry Weems.
The program first aired on October 3rd, 1990 and was repeated in June the following year.
Between May 1988 and March 1993, he was singer with 'ALL HAT JAZZ' during their long and very successful Sunday afternoon residency at Balmain's famous UNITY HALL HOTEL and the United Kingdom, Japan and United States releases of their self-titled album is resulting in his receiving further acclaim as one of the great white blues singers.
Gary (Guitar) Dale - Guitar & Vocals.
Gary has been playing guitar with various rhythm & blues, soul and rock outfits since around 1976.
In that year he became a founder member of the LAYABOUTS and played with them continuously for the next five years, rejoining the reformed band again in the early 1984 and staying with the band until the latter part of the decade during which time they recorded and released their album STRANDED IN THE JUNGLE.
Apart from the LAYABOUTS, he has also at different times been a member of the ZARSOFF BROTHERS (and is also on that band's album), the ECHOES, the CONVERTIBLES and was a founder member of BEACHHEAD in March 1980, staying ‘til the hectic schedule of his commitment to the Layabouts became too much, in late 1981, for him to continue as at that time both bands were working very frequently.
He has since played with the band on many occasions and has now rejoined as a permanent member following the permanent relocation of former guitarist, Will Irving to Queensland in mid-1999.
Raoul Hawkins - Bass Guitar.
Raoul was a founder member of, and played valve trombone with, KEYS (the performance group of the Keys Music Association) before joining the LAYABOUTS, with whom he initially played valve trombone, switching to the role of bassist when the original, Vicki Kennedy, left.
He was also the bassist in the original BEACHHEAD, only leaving the band around April of 1980 to live and study his craft in New York in the United States of America, the homeland of jazz and blues.
Upon returning to Australia he was to become a founder member of yet another group, PARIS GREEN, the formidable and legendary fusion group who were to attract a huge following during their main residency at the, then HAROLD PARK Hotel.
After sixteen years (a time which has seen him play with among many others,ED KUEPPER and powerhouse Texas-stylist trio THIRD DEGREE) Raoul rejoined the ranks of BEACHHEAD, as a permanent member in 1996 and is imprinting his own distinctive presence in the overall sound of the band.
Adam (Trev) Barnard - Drums / Percussion.
Adam is the youngest of the widely admired and extremely talented Barnard clan. A family that has so much musical talent that others are left in awe!
He is the youngest son of world renowned jazz trumpeter/cornetist, BOB, his older brother is London-based jazz guitarist, TONY (one of the best in the world), his cousin is none other than REBECCA (she of REBECCA'S EMPIRE fame) and his uncle, Rebecca's father, is the great jazz drummer, LEN ('Sluggsie').
With that sort of pedigree you would expect this boy to be good.
He is!
Starting out as a rock drummer in his early teens, he honed his jazz and blues skills while working with brother, Tony's ALL HAT JAZZ at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain during their five year residency (1988-1993).
Adam had been part of the 'Beachhead family' from August 1993 until February 1994 when he was replaced by Max (THUMPA) Farrell on the eve of a Victorian tour with other music commitments forcing him to resign at that time.
When asked if he would like to rejoin in 1996, he returned and is now one half of a very special rhythm section.
One of the finest of kind in the country!
Between times he can be seen filling the drum seat, or showing his mastery of the washboard, with the likes of MIC CONWAY, JIM CONWAY, KING BISCUIT, the NEVVA BINTA MEMPHIS MUDSTEPPERS, BOB BARNARD, or, when Tony is home for a visit from England, with FOUR BROTHERS AHEAD, a band which also includes Chris and Willy QUA of GALAPAGOS DUCK fame (the original line-up), as well as Rod Jeffery.
He is the drummer on all but one track of the BEACHHEAD's BLUES cassette and all but one on the TONY BARNARD's ALL HAT JAZZ ‘CD' album. That position on the latter falls to uncle Len Barnard while Adam takes a hand to the congas.
Undoubtedly, one of the finest young drummers in jazz and blues, in Australia, today! |
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The following piece was written about the 'BEACHHEAD'S BLUES' line-up in 1996 by a friend from Melbourne, VIC (Australia), 'Armadillo Slim' who co-fronted the old 'Highway 49' Blues program at the now defunct PLEASANT VALLEY FM along with Sean Clohesy & Glenn Nelson:-
"After 3 long hard years touring the Australian East Coast Blues circuit, BEACHHEAD'S BLUES have disbanded. However, 15 tracks recorded during two dates (the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain - September 1994 & the 3rd Lithgow Blues Festival - November 1995) are under consideration for a CD release.
Beachhead favourites, forged during gruelling roadwork make up the balance of the tracks.
SPOONFUL, HONEY HUSH, ROUTE 66, (all murderous territory for lesser souls) cook with the band's rare blend of jazz tinged soulful R'n'B, stirred up via superior Blues-icianship.
The double Fender benders, Matthew ROSS & Matt 'Doc' DWYER trade inventive slinky licks revering Peter Green's ALBATROSS superbly.
LAID BACK, a Rod JEFFERY penned song, wistfully laments the passing two decades ago of the 'Wolfman', Chester (Howlin' Wolf) BURNETT.
Robert Johnson's CROSSROADS, plead chain-gang style, shakes off its often cliched shackles and BEACHHEAD (Rod) steals it for his own.
Joined by both the band and BLIND FREDDY'S Linda Hansen, JESUS on the MAINLINE fevers up a gospel churchy pitch with HANSEN lending a real feminine persuasion & completing the acapella workout.
Al Green's TAKE ME TO THE RIVER finds the band working out a funky full bore shaker. BEACHHEAD has the Blues firmly grasped throughout this Memphis soul standard."
Armadillo Slim ('Highway 49 News' - October 1996 Edition) |
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Location:
PORTLAND NSW, Australia
BEACHHEAD Website
info@beachblues.org
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