Ian Charles Bloxsom
Born: Mount Morgan Queensland 11th December 1938
Died: Sydney 12th December 2019

Ian’s early childhood was spent in Comet, Queensland where his parents managed the hotel owned by his grandmother. His parents were a great influence on his musical career - father Charles was a cornet/trumpet player both in brass bands and dance bands and mother Jessica was a pianist who met her husband when she joined his dance band.

Ian attended primary school in Comet and then attended high school at Rockhampton Grammar School. At Rockhampton Grammar School he was always involved in school activities and with the knowledge of marching bands taught by his father he started the school marching band and coached the band to its first public appearance. He performed regularly with his mother and father in shows at the family hotel in Rockhampton – The Criterion.

He was  the lead actor in  school plays, formed a rhythm and blues band, played first grade rugby & tennis (Rod Laver was in the same year) and after high school graduation was accepted to study law at University of Queensland. After moving to Brisbane in 1956 to study law Ian formed with other students the Varsity Five trad Jazz band. The band was featured on a weekly TV show and played with Kenny Ball, Graeme Bell and on two occasions with the King of Thailand.

At the same time Ian started working 4-6 nights a week in the house band at Tommy’s jazz club in Brisbane. This was the period of greatest influence in his musical career. In particular the band leader Stan Walker who took his trio to see Louis Armstrong at Brisbane Festival Hall in 1964. After four years of law study, Ian chose the path of a full time musician and left university. In 1963 He married Jill L’Estrange - a well know singer in the Brisbane music scene. After the birth of their two children, Ian and Bridget, the family moved to Sydney in 1965. Later with a new partner Kerrin he welcomed 2 more children - Tasia and Felix.

Ian soon established himself in the Sydney music scene and his versatility in being able to play any style of music saw him in great demand. He worked continuously up until his passing – a professional career of more than 60 years. He performed in USA, Switzerland, New Zealand, Japan, Thailand, Holland and England. He was a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra for 17 years, as well as bands such as SCRA, Crossfire, Supermarket, Bob Barnard Band, The Delltones, Mellotones, Channel Nine Midday Orchestra, John Sangster’s varied projects and many more. He played in pit orchestras in many musical theatre productions including Evita, Hot Shoe Shuffle, Aida Sydney Theatre Company productions amongst others. He was a highly respected music teacher at Sydney Grammar School and Ascham School for 30 plus years.

A gentleman, uniquely versatile and great musician, a friend to all, and the founder of the Old Dukes Club and a proud Queenslander who will be missed by many.

Hooroo Blocko

Package: Audio CD, Jewel Case with 4 page booklet
Total Running Time: 71'58"

Ian Bloxsom - Drums; Ashley Turner - Bass; Peter Locke - Piano. With archival photos by Geoff Dauth, liner notes by Ian Bloxsom

The first real trio I played in was at Tommy's nightclub in Brisbane, Queensland in the early 1960's. Stan Walker was the leader and piano player, Billy Boon played the bass. Tommy's was open six nights a week and the band hours were 9pm till 2am. The place was always packed from the time the pubs closed at 10pm, with people from all walks of life who wanted to stay out late, for whatever reason.

We played to lawyers, doctors and all sorts of professional people; merchant seamen from the ships that tied up in the Brisbane River to unload cargo from all over the world;sailors from the Australian, British, French, New Zealand and United States navies; soldiers from the Australian army; students, criminals, coppers, hookers, husbands and housewives. There were nightly fights, furniture smashing and many other diversions of that nature - a total uproar. The piano was a small upright with no amplification, the bass had no amp either and gut strings.

When an offer arose in 2003 to take a band into the Randwick Rugby Club I thought of Stan Walker and his idea of the power trio. I had admired the playing of both Peter Locke and Ashley Turner for some time, not only because of their fine musicianship but for their ability to "do the gig" no matter what the situation. Here was an opportunity for the three of us to "do the gig" in a different way, with plenty of solo space for all three players.

This studio recording from September 2004 is as close to "Live At The Rugby Club" as you could get, but if you weren't lucky enough to be there, here is a typical set you would have enjoyed. I.B.