Jack Brokensha
Encyclopedia
John Joseph "Jack" Brokensha (5 January 1926 – 28 October 2010) was an Australian-born American jazz
vibraphonist
.
Brokensha was born in Nailsworth
, Adelaide
, South Australia
. He studied percussion under his father, and played xylophone
in vaudeville
shows and on radio. He played with the Australian Symphony Orchestra during 1942-44, and played in a band in the Air Force
in 1944-46.
Forming his own group, he played in Melbourne
in 1947-48, Sydney
in 1949-50, Brisbane
later in 1950, and Adelaide in 1951. In 1953 he moved to Windsor
, Ontario
, Canada
with Australian pianist Bryce Rohde
; they formed the Australian Jazz Quartet/Quintet the following year with Australian bassoonist/saxophonist Errol Buddle and American saxophonist/flutist/bassist Dick Healey. This ensemble (sometimes recording as a quintet or sextet) toured together until 1958 after a tour of Australia.
Brokensha moved to Detroit, Michigan
, where he was hired by Berry Gordy
of Motown Records as a percussionist, becoming one of the few white members of Motown's Hitsville U.S.A.
recording studio's house band, The Funk Brothers. He was given the nickname "White Jack", to distinguish him from Jack Ashford
, an African American percussionist nicknamed "Black Jack".
Following further tours in Australia with Sammy Davis, Jr.
and Stan Freberg
, Brokensha founded his own music production company. He did a session with Art Mardigan
in 1963, and after this became more active in disc jockey
ing and writing music for television. He recorded as a leader again in 1980 and continued to lead his own group well into the 1990s. The Australian Jazz Quartet also reunited for tours and recording in 1994.
Jack died in Sarasota, Florida
, of complications from congestive heart failure, aged 84.
With the Australian Jazz Quartet
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
vibraphonist
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
.
Brokensha was born in Nailsworth
Nailsworth, South Australia
Nailsworth is a suburb located four km north of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb borders Sefton Park, Prospect, Broadview, Medindie Gardens and Collinswood. The North Road Cemetery is located within the suburb and was founded by Bishop Augustus Short in 1853...
, Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He studied percussion under his father, and played xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
in vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
shows and on radio. He played with the Australian Symphony Orchestra during 1942-44, and played in a band in the Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1944-46.
Forming his own group, he played in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1947-48, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1949-50, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
later in 1950, and Adelaide in 1951. In 1953 he moved to Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with Australian pianist Bryce Rohde
Bryce Rohde
Bryce Benno Rohde is an Australian jazz pianist and composer. He was strongly influenced by George Russell's musical conceptions....
; they formed the Australian Jazz Quartet/Quintet the following year with Australian bassoonist/saxophonist Errol Buddle and American saxophonist/flutist/bassist Dick Healey. This ensemble (sometimes recording as a quintet or sextet) toured together until 1958 after a tour of Australia.
Brokensha moved to Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where he was hired by Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
of Motown Records as a percussionist, becoming one of the few white members of Motown's Hitsville U.S.A.
Hitsville U.S.A.
"Hitsville U.S.A." is the nickname given to Motown's first headquarters. A former photographers' studio located at 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan, it was purchased by Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1959 and converted into both the record label's administrative building and recording...
recording studio's house band, The Funk Brothers. He was given the nickname "White Jack", to distinguish him from Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford , known to his friends as Jashford, is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s. Ashford is most famous for playing the tambourine on hundreds of Motown recordings...
, an African American percussionist nicknamed "Black Jack".
Following further tours in Australia with Sammy Davis, Jr.
Sammy Davis, Jr.
Samuel George "Sammy" Davis Jr. was an American entertainer and was also known for his impersonations of actors and other celebrities....
and Stan Freberg
Stan Freberg
Stanley Victor "Stan" Freberg is an American author, recording artist, animation voice actor, comedian, radio personality, puppeteer, and advertising creative director whose career began in 1944...
, Brokensha founded his own music production company. He did a session with Art Mardigan
Art Mardigan
Arthur Mardigan was an American jazz drummer.Mardigan played with Tommy Reynolds in 1942 and served in the Army in 1943-44. After his discharge he worked extensively on the New York City jazz scene, playing and recording with Georgie Auld, Charlie Parker, Allen Eager, Dexter Gordon, Kai Winding,...
in 1963, and after this became more active in disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
ing and writing music for television. He recorded as a leader again in 1980 and continued to lead his own group well into the 1990s. The Australian Jazz Quartet also reunited for tours and recording in 1994.
Jack died in Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota, Florida
Sarasota is a city located in Sarasota County on the southwestern coast of the U.S. state of Florida. It is south of the Tampa Bay Area and north of Fort Myers...
, of complications from congestive heart failure, aged 84.
Discography
As leader- And Then I Said (Savoy RecordsSavoy RecordsSavoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
, 1963) - Holiday Inventions (US Steel, 1968)
- Boutique (AEM Record Group AEM 25681-2, 1993)
- XMazz (AEM Record Group, AEM 25711-2, 1993)
With the Australian Jazz Quartet
- "Australian Jazz Quartet" (Bethlehem BCP-1031, 1955)
- "The Australian Jazz Quartet" (Bethlehem BCP-6003, 1955)
- "Australian Jazz Quartet/Quintet" (Bethlehem BCP-6002, 1956)
- The Australian Jazz Quintet at the Varsity Drag (BethlehemBethlehem RecordsBethlehem Records was a record label based in New York and Hollywood founded by Gus Wildi in 1953. It was bought by King Records in the early 1960s....
BCP-6012, 1956) - Australian Jazz Quintet Plus One: Jazz in D Minor (Bethlehem BCP-6015, 1957)
- Rodgers & Hammerstein (Bethlehem BCP-6022, 1957)
- Free Style (Bethlehem BCP-6029, 1958)
- Three Penny Opera (Bethlehem BCP-6030, 1958)
- Reunion! Recorded Live - Adelaide Town Hall (AEMAEMAEM is a three-letter acronym that may refer to:* Agencia Espacial Mexicana , the space agency of Mexico* AEM , a French electric car;* AEM , a Welsh-built version of the Mini-Moke car;...
, AEM 25801-2, 1994)