Jeff Mackrell

Jeff was born in the South Island, educated in Taranaki, domiciled in Auckland.

Jeff learnt guitar when he was 11 and moved on to bass guitar at 14 due to a severe lack of bass players in Taranaki. At the time, everyone wanted to play lead guitar!!

He moved to Auckland in 1983 with his Taranaki band, a bass guitar, a mattress and has pretty much played in bands on and off ever since (the mattress has long since given up!) He toured the North Island extensively during the mid 80’s playing with various bands of the day. Jeff pawned his beloved bass at Harmony House on Queen Street in 1985 so he could pay the rent and eat. Then reality hit with having to get a real job to survive.

In early  1987 Jeff was enticed out of full time employment for a few gigs and a number of tours around the country and then took a ten year break to get his act together. He got married, had a family and was forced back into music when his wife pointed out that he had a guitar and “if he didn’t use it he may as well sell “that gear” that we lug all around the place and takes up all that space!” Since then he has been in a number of covers and originals bands playing pretty much most musical styles but has always had a passion for Blues and Jazz. He is delighted to have found Good Oil.