All office bearers on our Committee work voluntarily. The Committee meets once a month to discuss fund raising and any business arising for the betterment of the MBAS.

MBAS Committee Members:2011 - 2012

Officers:

President:
John Jerman
  email: president@mbas.org.au
   phone: 0425 776 613

Vice President:
Publicity Officer:
Louise Castle
  email: vicepresident@mbas.org.au

I was living in Sydney when I went to my first blues gig. That was in 2004 and it changed the course of my life as I discovered my passion that night – live blues music.

At the Queenscliff Music Festival in 2005 I had an epiphany – it was no longer enough for me to be a spectator at blues gigs and festivals. What I actually wanted was to be a part of the blues music industry…and part of the industry in Melbourne.

In 2006, I followed my heart and moved from Sydney to Melbourne for the blues. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I've found my place in life.

This is my 2nd time on the MBAS Committee and I'm loving it.

Secretary :
Newsletter editor:
Pam Wiseman

Treasurer:
Grant Collie
   email: treasurer@mbas.org.au

My love for music began at an early age mainly because my family played music and would have weekend long “Rorts” where muso’s would come along and play and enjoy themselves in the great social life of music. I began playing drums at the early age of 8 and was tutored in military, jazz and orchestral percussion.

During my teens I became infected with Rock and popular music, this led to me playing many different styles of music and to this day I still have a massive respect for musicians of any style of music and retain a wide appreciation of music. At 18 I left Australia and played in the U.K. and Europe for 4 years, this gave me a chance to learn about the entertainment industry and just how hard it is to survive as an unknown in the competitive world of music.

One thing I always felt was the great unity of musicians with absolutely no prejudices towards one another. This is something I still feel today in the MBAS and Blues musicians. Blues music covers such a wide range of styles of music giving anybody the chance to express themselves with either vocals or instruments. Good playing takes many years of practise and learning and having the chance to help others experience the emotional vibe of playing and entertaining ensures that I shall remain with the MBAS for as long as possible.

Events Coordinator:
Gary Jones
  email: events@mbas.org.au
   phone: 0425 776 613

“ I get my kicks on route 66”....no playing my B3 Hammond Organ. Many people will know me as a musician, but many will know me as the Event Co-ord of MBAS. They will have seen me running around at MBAS events organising musicians, keeping the schedule on time and making sure everyone is enjoying the music that I also love.

I’m a strong believer in all aspects of the MBAS. Supporting and encouraging young musicians - Youth In Blues, jammers who turn up each week at our Tuesday night Jam, local artists to publicise their gigs and get their CDs on radio, and recognition of the elder statesmen of the Melbourne blues scene.

Blues Performer of the Year is the biggest event on our annual calendar, and we have had great success with the artists we have sent to Memphis USA. It is very rewarding to see us send Melbourne’s best blues musicians to the US, but it is also costly. As a small not-for-profit organisation we sometimes struggle to cover the expenses to enable us to be represented on the world blues stage in Memphis, but it is worth every cent when you hear the Americans say – watch out here come those Aussies again to win gold.

I enjoy the event organising of blues gigs whether the weekly jam or at a large festival, but I still love to play my B3Hammond Organ when I can. I’ve been playing keyboards since I was a young boy, having learnt classical piano as a youngster then graduating to Organ as a teenager. I’ve played all types of music, but my heart is in blues, funk, soul & jazz. In the early 1970’s I bought my first Hammond Organ and my love for it returned a few years ago in a very passionate way. I am now a collector with too many Hammonds, including a genuine B3. I have previously played with Synergy Blue, Andrea Marr, Phil Manning & Andy Baylor. I am currently a member of “Continental Robert’s (Melbourne) Rinky Dinks”.