Galapagos Duck This Time -
Recorded with a very loose, live feel and minimal overdubbing, it feels like sitting in the front row of a smokey club.
The album famously features guest woodwinds player Don Burrows, a massive stalwart in the Australian jazz scene. Galapagos Duck This Time
To understand This Time , you have to understand where Galapagos Duck came from. Formed in Sydney in 1969, the band didn't just play jazz—they defined the sound of the Australian jazz boom in the 1970s. They were the foundation of The Basement, a club that went on to be known as one of the greatest jazz venues in the world. Recorded with a very loose, live feel and
This stylistic shifting drew occasional criticism from purists who felt the band was catering too hard to the masses. However, that exact willingness to blend high-brow jazz with foot-stomping grooves is exactly why they became a household name. 🎺 A Legacy That Refuses to Stop Formed in Sydney in 1969, the band didn't
Decades after This Time hit record store shelves, Galapagos Duck is still actively gigging and packing out venues across Australia. While the lineup has inevitably shifted over the last half-century, the core philosophy has never wavered: deliver high-energy, world-class jazz that makes the audience feel good.
Whether they are throwing down staple covers like Herbie Hancock’s "Watermelon Man", Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train", or their famous renditions of "Caravan", they remain the gold standard of live Australian jazz.
By 1975, Galapagos Duck was a well-oiled machine. They teamed up with legendary producer Horst Liepolt for his 44 Records label to record their third album, This Time (often discussed alongside their subsequent 1976 releases like St James ).