Chris Qua
Chris Qua (1951–2023) was an Australian jazz musician on double bass and flugelhorn, a founding member of Galapagos Duck and a familiar figure in the Sydney jazz scene.
His Move credits place him on bass in Australian jazz sessions from the late 1970s through the 1990s, including soundtrack and suite projects later restored by the label. On The Last Will and Testament of John Sangster (MD 3255) he anchors a warm, swinging rhythm section for late scores praised for their humour and humanity.
He also plays bass on the playful double album Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat) (MD 3321), on the film score Fluteman (MD 3370), and across the five volumes of the Jazz Music Series.
Chris Qua appears on
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 5: Ripper
The fifth and final volume in John Sangster’s jazz series of suites, written for a lively little orchestra that gathers some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians around his vibraphone writing.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 4: Take That
Volume four of John Sangster’s Jazz Music Series finds his “lively little orchestra” of leading Australian jazz players in a ten-movement suite of wit, swing and colour.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 3: Steady Lads
Third in John Sangster’s series of suites for a lively little orchestra of some of Australia’s finest jazz musicians: ten pieces of small big-band writing with Sangster on vibraphone.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 2: Requiem (for a loved one)
Volume 2 of five suites by John Sangster, played by his fine small orchestra of leading Australian jazz musicians. A 1980 requiem for Janice Patricia Byrnes, nicknamed Bo Diddley.
Jazz Music Series, Vol. 1: Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Doo-wup
As John Sangster put it, "Here is the first in a series of Suites written for this lively little orchestra, a gathering that includes some of Australia's finest jazz musicians."
Fluteman
John Sangster wrote the score for the little-known 1982 Australian film Fluteman. Led by Don Burrows on flute, with eight other jazz players, the music makes wonderful listening quite apart from the picture.
Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat)
Uttered Nonsense (The Owl and the Pussycat) sets eight Edward Lear poems, spoken with grave poise by Ivan Smith, among fourteen instrumental jazz pieces drawn from the Nonsense Books. Sangster’s large Australian ensemble answers the verse with playful colour.
The Last Will and Testament of John Sangster
Tony Gould, Len Barnard, Graeme Lyall and friends honour one of Australia's unsung jazz heroes. These final Sangster scores, played by leading colleagues, form a warm and fitting tribute.