Ray Price, The Port Jackson Jazz Band

Biography

Ray Price (1921–1990) was a central figure in the evolution of Australian jazz, particularly as a guitarist, director, and business manager of The Port Jackson Jazz Band. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, Price became involved in the burgeoning jazz scene during the 1940s, a period when jazz was gaining popularity in the country. He joined The Port Jackson Jazz Band in 1947, quickly establishing himself as a driving force behind their success, both musically and organizationally.

Under Price's leadership, The Port Jackson Jazz Band became one of Australia's most prominent traditional jazz ensembles. He played a key role in organizing performances, publicizing the band, and expanding their reach, including high-profile concerts at the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1948. Price's musical style was rooted in Dixieland and traditional jazz, but he was also known for his adaptability and openness to new influences, which helped the band remain relevant through changing musical eras. His legacy endures as a pioneer who helped lay the foundation for Australia's jazz community, mentoring younger musicians and fostering a vibrant live music culture in Sydney and beyond.

Fun Facts

• Ray Price was not only a musician but also the business manager and publicist for The Port Jackson Jazz Band, organizing gigs and dances at venues like Air Force House.
• He was instrumental in reforming the Port Jackson Jazz Band in 1955, bringing together both old and new talent.
• The Port Jackson Jazz Band, with Price as a key member, was among the first Australian jazz groups to achieve a significant public reputation with concerts at the NSW Conservatorium of Music in 1948.
• Ray Price later formed his own group, the Ray Price Quartet, in the early 1960s, further contributing to Sydney's jazz scene.

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Len Barnard - Influence through shared band members and the broader Australian jazz scene; Barnard's bands were a model for traditional jazz in Australia. (Indirect influence via musicians like Doc Willis) [1940s–1950s]

Key Collaborators

• Jim Somerville - Bandmate in The Port Jackson Jazz Band; significant member during the band's rise to prominence. (Port Jackson Jazz Band recordings and performances) [Late 1940s]
• Doc Willis - Trombonist who joined the reformed Port Jackson Jazz Band in 1955, previously associated with Len Barnard's band. (Port Jackson Jazz Band (1955 lineup)) [1955]
• Flannery, McCarthy, Harman - Members of the 1955 reformed Port Jackson Jazz Band under Price's direction. (Port Jackson Jazz Band (1955 lineup)) [1955]

Artists Influenced

• Sydney jazz musicians of the 1950s–1980s - Mentored and inspired younger musicians through band leadership and live performances. (Live performances, band recordings) [1947–1990]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Dany Boy (For Betty)
2. Custard Puff (The Poll Winners Ride Again!)
3. A Foggy Day (Kessel Plays Standards)
4. When Your Lover Has Gone (Milestones of a Jazz Legend - Ben Webster, Vol. 2 (1957, 1959))
5. Girl Talk (For Betty)
6. Custard Puff (The Poll Winners Ride Again!)
7. It Never Entered My Mind: Higher and Higher: It Never Entered My Mind (from "Higher & Higher") (Milestones of a Jazz Legend - Ben Webster, Vol. 4 (1957, 1959))
8. Upstairs Blues (This Is Ray Brown)
9. On Green Dolphin Street (The Poll Winners)
10. Jordu (The Poll Winners)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia