Musn Marty Ball, AAB Sydney, shows his style in a Sydney subway which caught the eye of Maj Gordon Lambie. Photo by Cpl Sean Burton, Army newspaper

Marty’s sax appeal

By Cpl Sean Burton
Land Command Reporter
AN UNEMPLOYED Sydney buskers’ life changed dramatically when a passer-by dropped a business card – not a coin – into his hat, a simple act that started a ball rolling.

The ball was busker, Marty Ball, who rang the card’s telephone number and spoke to the then OC Australian Army Band – Sydney (AAB Sydney) Maj Gordon Lambie.

Maj Lambie recognised the saxophonist’s talents and arranged a tour for him of the AAB Sydney’s facilities with the view to recruiting him for the band.

After a couple of visits and hearing what life with the AAB had to offer, he decided to enlist for a place in the band as a saxophonist and vocalist.

As Mr Ball joined the Army and became Recruit Ball, he quickly realised he had no idea of what he was letting himself in for.

“Kapooka was a bit of a shock to the system. Until then a muso’s life is a muso’s life, and you’re your own boss – but I had to earn my place,” he said.

“I had been living the nightlife because of the gigs but I still had to have the discipline to get up in the morning because the busking was worth it.”

Musn Ball, a saxophone player for 20 years, still laughs at the moneymaking psychology he used when playing for busy Sydney commuters as part of a busking duo.

“We would make up to $150 each a day for about 3 hours work on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday during the morning and evening rush hours, because everyone’s happy on those days. Forget Monday and Tuesday – it’s still too early in the working week.

“We found that if you busk on a busy corner with traffic lights, people have to stop so it gives them time to listen, enjoy and hopefully get some change out, but if you play where people are moving quickly they don’t have time to find spare change and stop.”

For the last two years the AAB has been his regular gig with the band performing over 200 functions a year at home and overseas.

When not playing for the ADF, the AAB Sydney perform to help raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for a wide range of charities from Taronga Zoo to Rotary International.

The AAB has approximately 200 musicians spread amongst its six regular bands, including the 1RAR Band in Townsville.

After two years service Musn Ball has noticed the different focus between foreign military bands and the AAB.

“The Americans are great players and have some great marching bands, the British are very traditional and the Kiwis have great drill but the Australian band is modern, making versatility our strength.”

This versatility has been demonstrated by the ongoing success of the AAB Sydney critically acclaimed Jazz CD, Exposed, proceeds of which go to RecLink, an organisation that uses art and recreation as rehabilitation in the life of street people.

The CD has topped the Australian Jazz charts since its release in October 2002 and has been described by Jazz supremos Don Burrows and James Morrison as being of a world-class standard.

Musn Ball recently joined his Victorian counterparts, AAB Melbourne, on Tour De Force Five, to East Timor.

He said while the 5/7RAR Bn Group were a receptive and friendly audience he admits that the previous tours have been hard work at times.

“Each audience is different. Some are intimidating while others are relaxed, which means we perform better, but sometimes you just have a concrete audience that is hard to work through.

“We do our job professionally, same as they do theirs. We respect them for what they do and we hope they respect us for what we do – we are all part of the same team.

“We have to put on a show no matter what is going on behind the scenes or in our private lives – the show must go on.”

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