Tweet
Quarter Past Late is the latest solo release from well known Australian musician Ross Nicholson. In CD format it features 12 tracks, 10 of which are original tracks composed by Ross. Released late in 2014, Ross has drawn upon his 55 years of experiences in and around the music scene to produce a quality selection of music.
To have some understanding of what is behind these tracks and how the project has come about, it is vital to tell a little of Ross's story.
Born in 1948 in Wagga Wagga his first introduction into the world of rock 'n' roll came when the family moved to Melbourne in 1952, and in the subsequent years he would become familiar with the sounds of Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bill Haley and Chuck Berry courtesy of a crystal set. In 1957 he bought his first guitar from Allen's Music in melbourne, and in Ross' own words, "It was a plywood box with strings, and cost 9 guineas." Between 1959 and 1962 he took 18 months of Flamenco guitar lessons and introduced himself to the world and work of artists such as Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, the Clancy Brothers and other similar artists. Over the next couple of years he learnt a repertoire of over 200 folk, blues and country songs. The history learnt through folk music led him to read like an addict, a passion that fired his interest in words, expression and writing.
In 1962 while attending Caulfield High School, he met with Micheal Gay and began a friendship that continues to this day. In Ross's words, "Mick and I bought Yamaha 6 string guitars and had them converted to 12 strings by the Victorian Banjo Club. During this year I started writing poetry, enamoured with Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and Be-Bop, thanks to my older brother Graham. I Began frequenting The Fat Black Pussy Cat , a jazz club located at 90 Toorak Road, South Yarra,and that was also my first meeting with Adrian Rawlins, poet, performer, organiser, raconteur, stirrer, hipster. I listened to live jazz with the Brian Brown Quartet, Barry McKimm, Ted Vining, Alan Lee, and many others. In a Caulfield High School talent quest, Micheal and I won 30 bob each, and this first taste of playing in public changed my life.
Oh yeah, getting expelled from school some months later also changed my life."
Early 1960's
At 14 years of age he hitched around Australia returning to Melbourne in 1965 where he worked in a variety of music oriented businesses including Discurio, Thomas' Music and Archie and Jugheads. Not only was he constantly learning about all forms of recorded music, he was meeting people who were seriously committed to music. According to Ross, "In mid ’65, I met my second musical partner-in-crime, Chris Fogaty. We played folk clubs in Melbourne and Geelong. Quoting Chris: The main thing was the fucking unreal improvising, solid and flying close to the sun, it was agile, it was hip and it was emotional. It was 12 string guitar, harmonica, jaw harp, finger cymbals and kalimba, all of which went into the gumbo of folk blues we played."
A key person and a key date was Bob Bright and 1969. While Ross was managing a business called The Record Collector he met Bob Bright who in turn introduced Ross to to Frank Esler Smith (Musical Director-Marcia Hines Band and ex-Doug Parkinson), who along with drummer Ross Sutton, backed Del Shannon around Australia. So Ross was invited to join the backing band playing guitar and that was the basis of Ross's first tour.
By 1971 Ross's reputation was spreading and he soon found himself in one of Australia's most loved contemporary country groups - Saltbush. In 1971 the line-up was: Bernie O’Brien (ex-Bobby & Laurie’s Rondells, ex- Merv Benton’s Tamlas), vocals, lead guitar, dobro and fiddle. Harold Frith (ex-Thunderbirds), vocals and drums. Paul Pyle (ex-Johnny O’Keefe Band ,ex-Hot Dog with Gary Young), vocals and double bass. Ross Nicholson, vocals and guitar. That group dominated the contemporary country music scene for 10 years and racked up many kudo's including their performance on the legendary Live At The Station Hotel album (1976), they also released their album "At Twin Rivers" in the same year and they also won the Tamworth Golden Guitar Awards for New Talent of the Year, in that year, with their song "Sassafras Gap".
Bernie O'Brien, Ross, Harold Frith,Paul Pyle -1973 |
In 1978 Saltbush played as opening act for the Marty Robbins Tour of Australia, and then toured with Slim Dusty. In 1978 the band released their second album self-titled “Saltbush”.
In 1981 the group disbanded and in 1982 Ross formed Thunderbox with Ed Bates, George Butrumilis, Paul Pyle, Harold Frith, Paul Neuindorf, and Mick Holden. When that group disbanded he formed Ross Nicholson’s Road Dogs with Craig Reeves, Dougie McDonald, Les Gough and Phil Para. Then in 1985 he formed Spot The Aussie, a group that during its life span of eight years had a total of over 35 members, with occasional members including such notable Aussie musicians as Les Gough, Peter Laffy, Ross Hannaford, Sam See, Chris Stockley and the list seems to be endless. Ross left the group in 1993 during which there was a period he refers to as "The Dark Years".
Spot The Aussie: R to L -Mick "The Rev" O'Connor,Les Gough,Ross Nicholson,Tony Bishop,Peter Laffy,Ali,Dave "Chicken" Stewart,Dougie MacDonald (1985)
Following professional help Ross returned to writing songs in 2002 and he swung in and out music over the next eight years, but by 2011 he found he had over eighty songs, either new or re-written and was ready to return to serious recording. Over the next couple of years, on a shoestring budget and with the assistance of friends, both musicians and non-musicians, he recorded the album Quarter Past Late.
Accompanying Ross on this album is a mighty impressive group of talent, all of whom are friends of Ross's and who bring with them not just their skill and experience, but their love for Ross and his music. When you read own the list it is a veritable who's who of Aussie talent. It doesn't get any better!
Mark Kennedy - Drums & Percussion
Joe Hiltz - Electric Bass
Paul Pyle - Double Bass
Gavan Anderson - Guitars and banjo
Les Stacpool - Guitar
Mick "The Rev" Connor - Hammond and Piano
Brendan Mason - Mandolin and Ukulele
Nicholas Lyon - Violin and Viola
Genevieve Chadwick and James Gillard - Backing Vocals
and the man,
Ross Nicholson - Acoustic guitars and Vocals
So there are 12 tracks on the album and all but two were written by Ross, those being tracks three and four.
The album starts off with a beautiful but very small piece, just 42 seconds long. Called "Charlotte's Song", it is one of three such tracks, all short - that I like to think of as musical vignettes. According to Ross: "Back in the 60's,I used to sit for hours jamming around on a 12 string guitar,little instrumental things like this.This tune is dedicated to my youngest grand-daughter Charlotte." Charlotte's song has only one problem - it left me wanting more!
Mark Kennedy-Drums/Percussion
Joe Hiltz-Electric Bass
Ross Nicholson-Acoustic 12 String Guitar