Patricia Qua (née Barraclough) was born in Sydney NSW on 26 January 1926 and grew up in a musical environment in Ormond Street, Ashfield. Her father Len played piano for silent movies, her mother Isabel was a violinist and pianist and both were members of a light classical string quartet.
A band pianist, but rarely a soloist, Pat worked several nights a week with her own and other groups including Bill Boldiston's Ocean City Jazz Band at the North Sydney Jazz Club in 1959 and Ken Longman's Harbour City Jazzmakers from 1964 for its long residency at the Brooklyn Hotel opposite the Ironworkers Hall in George Street. She played on the Opera House construction site in 1965 for the AJC concert with Eric Richards Ill-Chosen Seven and when Nick Boston arrived in Sydney from Brisbane in 1966 and formed his Colonial Jazz Band he chose her as his pianist.
Pat also played, toured and recorded with the Ray Price quintet in 1974, toured with singer Ricky May, went to California with Tom Baker's San Francisco Jazz Band in 1978 sitting in with the band and, from 1983 to 1992, worked and recorded with Tom Baker's Chicago Seven and Swing Street Orchestra. She died on 7 September 2018 aged 92.
No comments:
Post a Comment