The Gold Coast City Jazz Club features many great talents. It’s easy to forget that these wonderful artists each have a story beyond the few hours they spend entertaining us. This month, Rodney Ford is in the spotlight. 

Influenced by ballroom dancing parents and brothers that were professional musicians, Rod Ford always had music playing around him, well before he played anything himself. 

Not only the organizer and member of the Gold Coast City Jazz Club’s House Band, Rod has a colourful resume, from touring with some of the biggest names in the music industry to entertaining for P&O, a current member of Galapagos Duck, The Fiddlers Feast as well as Rick Best’s Sweet Thunder. We sat down with Rod for a chat.

Can you tell us a little about how you became involved in music?

The trombone was my first instrument at school which soon gave way to trumpet which I had lessons at Sydney Conservatorium. I played in various wind ensembles at the Con and eventually played in the first Jazz Studies Big Band.

This was around the Vietnam days and National Service Callup was on the minds of all the musicians of my age. I decided to join the army and ended up in the Eastern Command Band for 3 years on trumpet. Due to a breathing problem, I swapped to Clarinet and started breathing lessons with a singing teacher. After 6 months I no longer had a breathing problem and started bona-fide singing lessons.

From trombone to trumpet, clarinet, vocals and now drums. What led you to your main instrument?

Whilst in the army I used to play the band kit when the drummers had gone home, and I would learn some beats. This led to my first job on the drums. I then started playing drums in the Conservatorium Big Band and at the same time had small band lessons.

What has been the most influential moment of your musical career?

When I left the army, I did the JC Williamson Theatre for three years, doing shows like Man of La Mancha, The Wizz and A Chorus Line whilst still studying at the Conservatorium under the great Roger Frampton. This led to probably the most important influence of my musical life when Roger asked me to join Jazz Co Op which was an incredible honour.

What is your favourite song to perform? 

I have many! From Danny Boy to Chameleon (Herbie Hancock), Spain, Your Everything, Friends, 4 Quartets (Chick Corea), This Masquerade (George Benson), Could You Be Loved (Bob Marley) and Save Your Love For Me (Nancy Wilson).

What advice do you have for a young player?

Find people to play with that are obviously better than you. You will learn at a much faster rate and get solid information that you can constantly build on. Listen diligently to as many styles as your brain can handle and at some stage in the future, this will stand you in good stead.