Ted Nettelbeck

Theodore John Nettelbeck (born 4 January 1936) is an Australian psychologist and jazz pianist, for some time emeritus professor in the School of Psychology at the University of Adelaide, known for researching human intelligence and inspection time.

Nettelbeck was born at Streaky Bay, South Australia, to schoolteacher Harry William George Nettelbeck (1 March 1910 – 16 October 1941) and (Christina) May Montgomery Nettelbeck (née Ross), who married in 1935. His father enlisted with the 2nd AIF in June 1940 and died of septicaemia at 1 AGH, and his remains buried at the Gaza Military Cemetery.

He attended Prince Alfred College, at least in 1951, when he passed his Leaving Certificate with a pass in five subjects. His first choice of career was architecture, and in 1953 began taking classes at the School of Mines and the Faculty of Engineering at Adelaide University, but despite achieving passing grades, he quit after two years to work as a clerk for C.O.R., later taken over by BP. That job lasted only a year, but (or because) by this time he was earning good money as a musician.

Jazz

Nettelbeck received some training in piano from a Mrs Crotchet from age five, and from another teacher for three years, but made little progress through lack of practice. Shortly after his 16th birthday Nettelbeck heard Bruce Gray's jazz band at an Adelaide Jazz Convention and became an aficionado. He was shown a few chords and some basics of jazz harmony by Richie Gun, then invited to join his band, "Richie Gun's Collegians", a King Oliver / Louis Armstrong inspired band. In 1955 he was induced to join "Bruce Gray's All-Star Jazzmen", a distinct improvement both professionally and financially.

In 1960 Nettelbeck, drummer Billy Ross, and bassist Dickie Korff were given a gig at "The Embers" in Melbourne, by the nightclub's resident alto saxophonist Frank Smith, after which Smith invited Nettelbeck and Ross to join his band for their next big gig in two weeks' time, backing Mel Tormé. A year later Smith left for the In Melbourne Tonight band, to be replaced by Graeme Lyall and the bandleader seat by Nettelbeck, who picked up other work, writing arrangements for the Graham Kennedy - Bert Newton show.

In January 1962 Nettlebeck left for London and the Continent, joining bassist and singer Louis Bonett's (later known as Matt Flinders) trio. This lasted until 1965 when Nettelbeck, by this time married with a small family, returned to Adelaide. There he got a full-time seat at the Feathers Hotel, Burnside, meanwhile enrolling at the University of Adelaide Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in music. During these studies, in which he succeeded beyond anyone's expectations, he took up Psychology, earning a PhD degree, then accepted a teaching position with the University and quit "The Feathers". Music then took a back seat to teaching and research, but he later joined fellow academic Sylvan "Schmoe" Elhay for Friday afternoon rehearsals, occasionally joined by other enthusiasts. In 1977 Adelaide's first jazz venue in years, "The Creole Room" opened, becoming the venue of choice for touring jazz stars, and Nettelbeck was often chosen for the rhythm section to accompany such artists as Richie Cole, Lee Konitz and Mark Murphy. Elhay's band "Schmoe & Co." became the venue's house band, with Nettelbeck on piano, Laurie Kennedy on drums and, until 1979, Steve Elphick on bass. The Creole Room closed in 1980 but Schmoe & Co. continued to play regularly, gig or no gig, until 2016, shortly before Nettelbeck left to live in Melbourne.

Recordings

On Jim McLeod's Jazz Tracks 2 (1995)

• "2-4-5" (aka "245") (Eric Dolphy)
• "Alice in Wonderland" (Sammy Fain)
• "Sophisticated Lady" (Duke Ellington)

External links

• Faculty page