tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41259486318863667382024-03-14T08:34:32.512+11:00Jazz Blogger at LargeIntermittent postings from jazz festivals... Miriam Zolin listens to jazz and improvised music in Melbourne and at Wangaratta and wherever else she happens to have her ears on.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-42301575966224396502012-03-04T13:54:00.002+11:002013-05-06T06:08:37.994+10:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Miriam is now writing, interviewing and researching </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.jazz-planet.com/">Check it out!</a></span></div>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12523904235474421325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-34659898822151116522009-11-02T00:05:00.004+11:002009-11-04T09:02:07.607+11:00Paul Grabowsky SextetThe last gig. Paul Grabowsky Sextet in the WPAC Theatre. Starting late, and for the first time I stood in the media queue and had a chat before heading into the concert.<br /><br />This is a hard blog post to write... I was so tired that I nearly didn't go, but somehow could not resist. I'm sure you sympathise! This is a fantastic group of musicians and the music they play is transporting. And then, of course it was another chance to hear <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">that </span>Steinway!<br /><br />The sextet is Paul on piano, Jamie Oehlers (tenor sax) Carl Mackey (alto saxophone), Jordan Murray (trombone) Philip Rex (bass) and Niko Schauble (drums). A very west-coast line up with Jamie Oehlers, Carl Mackey and Jordan Murray all hailing originally from WA and Jamie and Carl still (mostly) based there.<br /><br />So... why is this a hard blog to write? Well, I think it's important to be honest and I was half waking half sleeping through some of this concert and I'd hate that to be read as an insult. It was delicious and I did float back to my hotel room and then off to sleep in a state of bliss. Not to say in any way that the music was soporiphic or boring. I'd hate anybody to think that. But on the other hand, for that delicious hour of music I drifted between dreamscape and soundscape. It reminds me of Grabowsky's Shirley Avenue piece at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival. Paul's ensembles have a way of creating new worlds. Philip Rex, according to Paul is from another galaxy anyway. Perhaps that's where some of this comes from!<br /><br />So thanks Paul, Jamie, Carl, Jordan, Philip and Niko... thanks for ending my Wangaratta Jazz Festival with a beautiful journey!Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-52452176334014278642009-11-01T17:30:00.003+11:002009-11-04T00:05:22.464+11:00Andrew Robson's Thomas Tallis Quartet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/product.asp?productid=396530"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMiTxIMoE_NIJLisWdvxpgwWGrsMpRkR87ibdbs9l463-ZST5Mn2DphqP0GTfWNkApjejpdHQVcHagzVwR-jRt0PXw6uXUp-_ipDVML4SDOKkGtnEVRD1oIuge7hgbqxdAx4rd2odGlRT/s200/BearingtheBellcover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399862353656430818" border="0" /></a>My one cathedral gig this year. Andrew Robson's Thomas Tallis Quartet was something I knew I had to line up for. A wine in the hot square outside the WPAC, then on to the Holy Trinity Cathedral to join Andrew Robson and Sandy Evans (saxophones) James Greening (trombone) and Steve Elphick (bass) for an hour of medieval tunes with jazz lines. As we walked into the cathedral, the fans were going. Those fans with the hoses, that cool and dampen the air. The humidity in Wangaratta is high today - I was told 60% this morning - so dampening the air didn't make anything terribly much cooler.<br /><br />This weekend was the first time the suite had been played live. Andrew gave us a run down of the music's history (based on the 15th Century Hymns of Thomas Tallis) and explained that we were going to hear the whole suite of 8 pieces. After a couple of tunes with breaks in between where we could applaud, the group decided to lose the breaks and allow us to hear everything without a break, from start to finish. It was lovely to see Andrew so chuffed about hearing the music live.<br /><br />The space was perfect. The sounds were gorgeous. The tunes were just right for the venue. Playing by Andrew, Sandy, James and Steve was a delight. And somewhere in the middle we had a humidity enhancement with a sudden shower. Grins all around from the musicians as they heard it on the roof.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-88317845235027750452009-11-01T15:00:00.003+11:002009-11-03T23:46:43.214+11:00Ish Ish<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdY6GHl7-LGaudF-6vY2v9QWCRsCptU6mSELCH6lYVpRGBQIFFFiUthSsq26kafGPxXEaHKv4Wo6XhUnt2WaPJx_3IjOIWJ7Q1OVlYIShHcukaioP25cSnte4o_lP0nznNvCuC17VWZ1y/s1600-h/ish+ish.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdY6GHl7-LGaudF-6vY2v9QWCRsCptU6mSELCH6lYVpRGBQIFFFiUthSsq26kafGPxXEaHKv4Wo6XhUnt2WaPJx_3IjOIWJ7Q1OVlYIShHcukaioP25cSnte4o_lP0nznNvCuC17VWZ1y/s320/ish+ish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399857050354202050" border="0" /></a>“So groovy I just couldn’t get into it" and "You’re joking, when’s the real band coming on?" - these two quotes were used by Mike Glover in his introduction to Ish Ish. I checked, and they are real quotes! I know and love this band's music and it's a treat to hear this band because they don't play terribly often. But even I shifted in my seat when I heard this. Was this going to be an adventure I didn't want to have?<br /><br />I was silly to worry of course. Ronny Ferella (drums) is the leader of this ensemble and led us through a number of familiar and new Ish Ish tunes.<br /><br />Aside: It's always a bit odd to hear his voice emanating from the back of the stage. Punter beside me was wondering who was speaking!<br /><br />Ish Ish is Ronny Ferella, Eugene Ball (trumpet) Jordan Murray (trombone) Julien Wilson (saxophone) Mark Shepherd (bass)<br /><br />My notes mention breath. And there was something in the roof making the sounds of brushes on cymbals. There was movement, surprise, beauty. My first experience of hte WPAC Hall, too. It worked.<br /><br />Picture of Ish Ish from <a href="http://www.eugeneball.com">Eugene Ball's website</a>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-82049353418883080832009-11-01T15:00:00.002+11:002009-11-03T23:27:20.933+11:00Linda Oh Trio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDpTr4xW1bDDHMYbd7Sz8KWnJrDraFWCCy9dgRaw17y1nWDB3vaFNp2qamRQIB3ubYTeZVlryJs4YLkwSNLwlAgWLWKI-PbW8H4nNtn7jGPVXWEXnraE8rH2EI7esqRW2vPMQmjVL8TSR/s1600-h/lindaoh.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigDpTr4xW1bDDHMYbd7Sz8KWnJrDraFWCCy9dgRaw17y1nWDB3vaFNp2qamRQIB3ubYTeZVlryJs4YLkwSNLwlAgWLWKI-PbW8H4nNtn7jGPVXWEXnraE8rH2EI7esqRW2vPMQmjVL8TSR/s320/lindaoh.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399852744681591410" border="0" /></a>Listening to the Linda Oh Trio is about listening. These are the sorts of soundscapes I could live in. This gig was in the WPAC Theatre, and as mentioned in a previous post, the ambience here was very well suited to the trio. Every note on Linda's bass was clear. Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire had a wonderful warm sound. Who knows what makes a listening experience this or that... but I do know that when I received a copy of the trio's CD in the post before the festival I heard one track and knew this was one of the bands I had to hear at Wangaratta on the weekend. Not disappointed. I love Linda's touch on the base. Individual notes, and spaces. Including when she played the melody.<br /><br />Ambrose stood right in front of me; I was in the front row of seats. From here I could see the way he played. Entranced by his sounds, I also loved the way he did this thing that looked like kissing the trumpet. Small sweet sounds.<br /><br />All three of the players (Linda Oh, Ambrose Akinmusire and Tommy Crane on drums) were interacting like old friends. Listening, conversing and enjoying themselves. Definitely a highlight of the festival for me.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-25261345600623439282009-10-31T22:56:00.000+11:002009-11-03T23:11:21.169+11:00Wilson Magnusson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaVBm0zW4s8BC2OPBgaJj9sI9IhEbpUCpw0_CTYnZVPk57eTaDQRwtwN7rAaA1AMu1Wz9SvAfzKU_XMMakRncEktLKO9rmnQb2244T9i9llIgN48oAfqRX_bBp-4KDj8A3mt8WBkce185/s1600-h/wilson.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaVBm0zW4s8BC2OPBgaJj9sI9IhEbpUCpw0_CTYnZVPk57eTaDQRwtwN7rAaA1AMu1Wz9SvAfzKU_XMMakRncEktLKO9rmnQb2244T9i9llIgN48oAfqRX_bBp-4KDj8A3mt8WBkce185/s320/wilson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399848572700163410" border="0" /></a>This configuration of the Wilson Magnusson Quintet is Julien Wilson on saxophone, Stephen Magnusson on guitar, Barney McCall on piano, Sam Anning bass and James McLean on drums. Wonderful music. Textured landscapes. The wailing cries of saxophone and guitar. Barney McCall's hands blurring on the piano keys as he plays along with Stephen's chattering. Moving over territory.<br /><br />I noticed the way Barney sits on his stool. Kinda sideways. Shifting in his seat, never sitting full on. No particular significance. I just noticed it...Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-70347486606158703162009-10-31T21:21:00.000+11:002009-11-03T22:56:30.619+11:00Boffin<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB3NdMt8bwQQC3c7VsxCevP7iPZADXs0hddSlVuNrO_i4i5GL1qBarMWuf9o1K7_j9eeTJfkbCR2El7TJpt7Z5KpSa0V7w5RbI79zbbGw3vQYwKjaWph0hZIrAnrS9dJDKMvpj1dH4ZI0/s1600-h/slater.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 152px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifB3NdMt8bwQQC3c7VsxCevP7iPZADXs0hddSlVuNrO_i4i5GL1qBarMWuf9o1K7_j9eeTJfkbCR2El7TJpt7Z5KpSa0V7w5RbI79zbbGw3vQYwKjaWph0hZIrAnrS9dJDKMvpj1dH4ZI0/s320/slater.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399844574195975922" border="0" /></a>Walked in part way through the Band of Five Names. A wall of sound. Seriously, it was real, physical, heart-thumping. I had missed the build up. Punter conversations later talked about the build-up, which was happening while I was deciding that Hamilton Loomis wasn't what I wanted. I've heard the Band of Five names do this before. I've forgotten to breathe in the process! Sorry to have missed that this time.<br /><br />The crashing high-tension music over, we were treated to more Bo5N sounds, the light touch kind of sounds. Spaces and delicate, clear notes. The Band of Five Names is Matt McMahon (piano), Phil Slater (trumpet), Simon Barker (drums) and a recent addition to the group Carl Dewhurst (guitar)<br /><br />Matt loves the Steinway in the Theatre in the WPAC. He didn't want to leave it!<br /><br />Picture of Phil Slater from <a href="http://www.sima.org.au/">SIMA website</a>.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-15470123891774792752009-10-31T20:30:00.001+11:002009-11-03T21:00:22.336+11:00WPAC sound variations and re-assessing the blues...After the Hoodangers, there was another interlude involving beers, which then turned into dinner and a little visit to the Blues Marquee. I'd wanted to hear Linda Oh, who was playing in the Hall at WPAC at 8:00 pm, but figured she was on again on Sunday morning. Sometimes friends and beers come first! As it turns out, the accidental decision I made to postpone listening to Linda was a good one. A punter I spoke to in a queue on Sunday (as you do) mentioned that he'd heard both of her gigs and the sound in the theatre had been far superior to the sound in the hall. While we'd both heard Ish Ish in the Hall (more of that later) and it had sounded great, the particular line-up or sound or something of Linda's trio had been better suited to the theatre's ambience. I tested that on Sunday morning (separate post).<br /><br />In the Blues Marquee, heard the tail end of Andrea Marr and the beginning of Hamilton Loomis. Energetic, and very much appreciated by the crowd, both of them. And Helen Jennings doing a superb job of Blues Emcee, as she does every year. Punter comment about Loomis 'very seventies'. Yes, he was. And it was here that I realised how this particular Wangaratta is very much about the joy of listening to improvised music.... the unpredictability, the call to an open heart and open ears. Rushed back to Ford Street to hear some jazz.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-42079661651842745142009-10-31T20:24:00.002+11:002009-11-03T20:36:38.321+11:00Kristin Berardi<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVttR-hGASqb1Q9cFFOZaUdsFwyf5vl-MZCWsvPw_EFxC1pY2cqw8je6CyNhYvCCb9FN1E2BgjnuuQkizh5xvauko9G4C6F_SlQhVxNM9U4xew_0x8Q81ymx_s8bJx3XUGGR4jWDTiJiPv/s1600-h/kristin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 79px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVttR-hGASqb1Q9cFFOZaUdsFwyf5vl-MZCWsvPw_EFxC1pY2cqw8je6CyNhYvCCb9FN1E2BgjnuuQkizh5xvauko9G4C6F_SlQhVxNM9U4xew_0x8Q81ymx_s8bJx3XUGGR4jWDTiJiPv/s320/kristin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399808376933635890" border="0" /></a>Kristin has a beautiful voice and I love her songs, so I was looking forward to her gig. Not disappointed! A great thing about Wangaratta is the way you can run into musicians in the street during the festival and I had met Kristin's little son Oliver, being cuddled by husband Dave Theak, in the morning. He seemed a lovely little chap, playing with his dad's nose and stuff, like little kids do... and having met him made Kristin's song 'Ode to Oliver' particularly special. A little bit moisty eyed, I was... And 'Just a girl' for some reason twanged the heart strings. Really enjoyed Mike's piano playing this afternoon, and Dave Theak's saxophone seemed to fly out over us.<br /><br />More than one punter comment afterwards about Krstin's pure voice and this band of hers is wonderful. Mike Nock on piano, David Theak on saxophone, James Sherlock on guitar, Alex Boneham, bass and Tim Firth on drums. St Pats Hall was packed, and entranced by those pure Kristin notes and the original tunes she shared with us.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-6005197187118283072009-10-31T18:00:00.000+11:002009-11-03T20:23:29.607+11:00Smiley and ...After the Hoodangers, Scott Tinkler and Simon Barker. Another good Sydney / Melbourne Combo. I loved the picture of them in the programme... scanned in here for your amusement.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aside:</span> It's funny what people expect of musicians and I wonder sometimes how much effort it takes to develop the sort of thick skin where an overheard comment doesn't start you questioning yourself. A punter in the street was saying, after hearing this gig, that she had been disappointed to hear that the two of them weren't playing like a duo. "It was like, Scott did this [does this trumpet playing thing with her hands] and then Simon did his thing and then Scott did his thing again and it was like, not what I expected, really." It seemed like she'd let that 'not what I expected' get in the way of what it was... or am I being too harsh?<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBo-cwrU2-RC4nSry4qRkl7JI7k9owenJFJWESW7SXz_r5LVSov3fN6O0Nfg1onoCvvtb5w640YQCQ26jKVa50MV7DfBiq24cHU6jKSuT8dHEes2Ax_eYvNTwBIoa4boI1qRft07dXjgY/s1600-h/smiley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBo-cwrU2-RC4nSry4qRkl7JI7k9owenJFJWESW7SXz_r5LVSov3fN6O0Nfg1onoCvvtb5w640YQCQ26jKVa50MV7DfBiq24cHU6jKSuT8dHEes2Ax_eYvNTwBIoa4boI1qRft07dXjgY/s320/smiley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399805230158074546" border="0" /></a>I was late to this gig as well, but there were seats, so I managed to sneak in. I came in at the end of a trance-like segment of sonorous gong and cymbal sounds from Simon, with Scott standing by. I wish I'd been there for the beginning. I took no notes, spent most of the gig with my eyes closed. I know what these guys look like and I like the surprises that happen when you don't now when Scott's picking up the trumpet and when Simon's picking up the sticks. What was it? These two musicians, colleagues, friends have a rapport and a shared approach that means their shared and complementary energy create beautiful sound spaces. It was fun, uplifting and energising. "Like, awesome."Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-34387482971145764412009-10-31T15:00:00.000+11:002009-11-03T19:08:49.992+11:00Saturday afternoonSaturday afternoon is where the festival always seems to get hectic and this year is no exception. So many bands to see and hear and then there are the people you haven't seen since last year, or last week; musicians, enthusiasts, writers, photographers and people you haven't seen for 27 years!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6wh9SVGAH3vijxVROujl4uBpwhRktit9wfsvYbZG3R70_qfIOzu1W6dSfoThZwDliW6mnDFdQci4SuNWet2RmwP6UOWYmMVU04-Ho4hRo5E3Sf73-e4N6UodKLu9Gw2ChQROm9Ot7WTz/s1600-h/hoodangers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6wh9SVGAH3vijxVROujl4uBpwhRktit9wfsvYbZG3R70_qfIOzu1W6dSfoThZwDliW6mnDFdQci4SuNWet2RmwP6UOWYmMVU04-Ho4hRo5E3Sf73-e4N6UodKLu9Gw2ChQROm9Ot7WTz/s320/hoodangers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399784419260901106" border="0" /></a>After the National Jazz Awards, I remember there were some Baileys of Glenrowan reisling, some laughs. I signed a copy of <a href="http://www.extempore.com.au"><span style="font-style: italic;">extempore</span></a>, I think. There was heat. It's up to 34 degrees today and the square in front of the WPAC is radiating heat. Old friends. New friends. Then lining up for the Mike Nock and Niko Schauble gig but not getting in. Interesting sounds from our side of the door. I hope to hear them again soon. This is one of those Melbourne / Sydney combinations that Wangaratta facilitates, and I'm sorry I missed it. Damn queues! But never one to let a moment be wasted, off to the Hoodangers in St Patricks Hall. This 'punk trad' band 'goes off' as I heard some young thing say recently. Ben Gillespie on trombone, vocals and shaky rattly gourdy thing, Eugene Ball on trumpet, Phil Noy on saxophone, Mal Williams on banjo, and (I think) Mark Elton bass and Ollie Browne on drums. Normally Chris Tanner's up there playing clarinet, and Phil Noy is a special guest in this line up. Pretty special! Lots of foots tapping in St Pats! Lots of variation in the tunes from fast and furious to reflective Journey to the Sky. Puts a grin on a girl's face, it does.<br /><br />Then on to the next gig, but more of that in the next post!Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-78151900919689128672009-10-31T11:11:00.001+11:002009-11-03T20:38:53.933+11:00What's a double strong macchiato?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcIJaZQZeWXzi9g-Z0vT87D4DE7xLobhPXj_ZeNjwAmoo47pBPd3bPar_S-sB9NMWvwF7Tpns2Hw9YxMHnQN9itU1-Im79VXR-Gt-ijpQSZUdq88WukejoKFcLAdjXjS73FGuG32xLJWk/s1600-h/macchiato.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 116px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcIJaZQZeWXzi9g-Z0vT87D4DE7xLobhPXj_ZeNjwAmoo47pBPd3bPar_S-sB9NMWvwF7Tpns2Hw9YxMHnQN9itU1-Im79VXR-Gt-ijpQSZUdq88WukejoKFcLAdjXjS73FGuG32xLJWk/s320/macchiato.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399247444020890866" border="0" /></a>It wouldn't be a Jazz Blogger at Large festival if we didn't include catering and environment comments, would it? A musician ordered a coffee at the new cafe at the WPAC (Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre). No big deal, you might say. But the response to a 'double strong short macchiato' was a perceptible physical jolt experienced by order taker... What can you do in those situations, if it's your order that has engendered such a strong response? Not much left to you except: plough on regardless and hope. Turns out he had no effing idea.<br /><br />The picture shows a short macchiato. A double would be... bigger. Maybe a latte glass instead of an espresso glass... just up the scale.<br /><br />What the musician received looked like a glass of mud. He pulled a face and may even have said something about what he thought of this macchiato travesty. I have to admit, even I was shocked. Ever helpful, I suggest that next time he order a macchiato by saying 'espresso with a bit of froth on top, not stirred in'. "Sure," he said. "Only I won't be asking for it here..."<br /><br />A note to festival baristas. Here's your situation: you've got musicians who've been up playing, drinking and reminiscing until the wee hours. You've got a programme that puts them back on stage at 10:00 am. You gotta have good coffee. Nuff said.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-7338327712290630952009-10-31T11:00:00.004+11:002009-11-03T19:15:55.067+11:00Avoiding the WPAC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi5xAJHdoO7NF3Xayq7nIVEsG1rPiWX_HvlthVIQ3b8shsQrcwvZhB5jHlKP8M2572iQQm0Qnj8WdhqYMdQyUuzHPA4wxKAZe0ae6JTmnfKWTYAO4uppbhSQQo9DtAMpQPiVywfAp78GN/s1600-h/ArtsCentreWang.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEi5xAJHdoO7NF3Xayq7nIVEsG1rPiWX_HvlthVIQ3b8shsQrcwvZhB5jHlKP8M2572iQQm0Qnj8WdhqYMdQyUuzHPA4wxKAZe0ae6JTmnfKWTYAO4uppbhSQQo9DtAMpQPiVywfAp78GN/s320/ArtsCentreWang.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399657862560020690" border="0" /></a>It's taking me a while to venture into the <a href="http://www.wangarattapac.com.au/">Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre (WPAC)</a>. Queues in all sorts of unusual places. It's cool in there though, so the pull is strong! One thing everybody is saying: in the WPAC spaces (Theatre and Hall) it is harder to leave and enter between songs. Something about the setup makes it harder to quickly get in and out.<br /><br />Maybe not such a bad thing. With the programme, which seemed slightly sparser this year, more punters were choosing to sit through a whole set rather than making an escape halfway through.<br /><br />And as the days get hotter, I notice it's the natural place to be! Sooo coooolll.<br /><br />The cafe does a good bacon and eggs but don't order the double macchiato.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-83797191525013124752009-10-31T11:00:00.003+11:002009-11-03T09:12:47.537+11:00National Jazz Award<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9zXjy-PlmyO-cp4Q-myuJ086nYGNkahhdkjCD84u-Nv50TUacyn4bsnKzlFLwWjt3MYhDl5ZaAFdZDOctSx-f-oRqAZpr49Qd4NewsPuVnj2H8o0qaYCRCKcswK-1udXzARiYpEqtoLz/s1600-h/phil+noy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9zXjy-PlmyO-cp4Q-myuJ086nYGNkahhdkjCD84u-Nv50TUacyn4bsnKzlFLwWjt3MYhDl5ZaAFdZDOctSx-f-oRqAZpr49Qd4NewsPuVnj2H8o0qaYCRCKcswK-1udXzARiYpEqtoLz/s320/phil+noy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399631764363842578" border="0" /></a>For me, some years at Wangaratta are 'finals years', when I go to listen to the National Jazz Award finalists and some years aren't. The NJA is an annual competition that focuses on a different instrument each year. This year it is saxophone and I know a few of the players. The rhythm section of Sam Keevers (piano) Ben Vanderwal (drums) and Phil Stack (bass, and last year's NJA winner) are musicians I like to hear as well so I decided to go along to the heats on Saturday morning (10 o'clock).<br /><br />Normally at the festival, the volunteers allow people to enter and leave between songs. During the heats, we can only arrive and leave between brackets, so I missed a bit by lingering over my coffee but managed to hear Phil Noy, James Annersley and Tim Wilson, and experience their different stage presences! Phil, smiling like he does, James relaxed in charge of the space, Tim polished. Lovely to hear tunes by Bernie McGann and Bobby Gebert being played in the finals! A conversation with a punter afterwards, who knows about such things, revealed some of the things she had noticed: the technical difficulty of the tunes and how the musician masters them, for example, with use of different techniques. On the other hand, you can listen to these brackets of three for the music in them alone, which I did...<br /><br />Standouts for me were the Bobby Gebert tune 'Song for my Lady' played by Phil Noy with tenderness and beauty. And Ben Vanderwal's drumming. Such a range of textures and touches. My notes make particular fuss about Ben at the end of 'You don't know what love is', played by James Annersley.<br /><br />Photo of Phil Noy by Laki Sideris, taken at Bennetts Lane in August this year. See Laki's photo blog at <a href="http://www.melbournejazzphotos.com/">www.melbournejazzphotos.com/</a>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-50875866149035041192009-10-30T23:45:00.001+11:002009-11-01T11:01:43.354+11:00Australian Art Orchestra<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.melbournejazzphotos.com/2009/04/scott-tinkler-ken-edie-ren-walters.html"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKxbcGwMAEVL9qbwMRZTgoUWrJnmYltoJ9_XGUP2hVcVwCdRk-kRAFZlNz5AuAoTWBhjSiUUGopJiFzbOWXYCvCyuqgqcsxHoBHx0QCVQF-MHqnJ0OZU2ilK06Chk9N-tLW3-xKCEJy-bi/s320/scotttinkler.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398912738217337202" border="0" /></a>In an interesting combination of two trumpeters, two guitarists, two drummers, a bassist and a pianist, Scott Tinkler led this excerpted Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) ensemble. The instrumentation was the easiest target for conversation. Even Gerry Koster, who was broadcasting this live for ABC Classic FM's <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/classic/jazzuplate">Jazz Up Late</a> program mentioned it in his intro.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aside: </span>Funny being in the live audience for a national broadcast... Gerry warns us what's happening, tells us to be enthusiastic in our applause, at the right moments, and turn our mobile phones off to be sure we're not 'part of the broadcast'. What he didn't tell us was that while the news was on, we'd be sitting in silence, with musicians shuffling self-consciously on the stage and all of us, poised, ready to applaud and cheer when prompted... all in absolute silence. Tee hee!<br /></span></div><br />But anyway, back to it. The instrumentation. Well, I found it interesting too. I knew this music was going to require active listening. After all it's Scott we're talking about. He's on an adventure! <br /><br />In any case, the instrumentation of doubles made it possible to hear and see some really interesting differences between the approach and sounds of the players. I was able to articulate some things after this concert that I had not been able to before... I have heard Stephen Magnusson's guitar spoken of as having a vocal quality recently. I agree with that and it's one of the things that makes his playing distinctive. And I loved the way it manifested in 'The Streets of Forbes' that I heard at Stonnington Jazz this year. Carl Dewhurst's playing on the other hand is different. I found myself thinking of the way Stephen's sound comes from the voice, the chest, a higher articulate form of expression. Carl's is more 'cellular'; I felt his sound in my bones, in marrow cells and platelets. He's earthed in deep places, speaking of things that have no voice... Then Scott and Phil. I realised with a jolt that trumpets are about air [who said I'm slow?!?]. Phil plays with the air, catching it and toying with it. The mute used to that effect. This aligns with his way of swaying. He's in the air, part of it. And Scott's doing different things with the air. He builds boxes around it, like a kid playing with rivulets of water in a rainstorm; he puts barricades in front of the flow, makes the air go around, forces it to mutate and become something else in the process. He stands solid, legs apart and neck tendons distended...<br /><br />Simon Barker and Ken Eadie have such distinct styles. A striking scene in the film <a href="http://www.intangibleasset82.com/">Intangible Asset #82</a> is where Simon is learning to fall, to let the earth's gravity take him. I see that in the way he plays. There's a slow weight in the way the sticks fall, in the way his body follows them. Such power in this relaxation though... A submission to the earth's forces and a harnessing of them at the same time. Ken is tight, fierce, stretched. His face, body, stance, strike... they all speak of readiness and fight.<br /><br />I dread the idea of any of these musicians reading this and thinking any of what I say is negative or positive. I'm just trying to explore an 'is-ness'... "it is what it is"<br /><br />Phil Rex and Marc Hannaford were of course superb.<br /><br />Picture of Scott Tinkler taken by <a href="http://www.melbournejazzphotos.com/2009/04/scott-tinkler-ken-edie-ren-walters.html">Laki Sideris</a> in Melbourne earlier this year. Laki's photos also appear in <a href="http://www.extempore.com.au"><span style="font-style: italic;">extempore </span></a>Issue 3.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-62384514366758584652009-10-30T23:30:00.000+11:002009-11-01T10:29:32.531+11:00Ari Hoenig<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyYp96P9-M4V2Zv7A245jgcrpeWNWYE4pB6qWafGQmLDr6sA0b9XXJTIfBhFiogMTrF_YTQ2oJLzp55kEMrq3zfl4gMwasNR-x7CbX9239bb3aQGPJmQEiUvqeW6B_GTsk0Hs8vGW6HBb/s1600-h/arihoeniggrab.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEyYp96P9-M4V2Zv7A245jgcrpeWNWYE4pB6qWafGQmLDr6sA0b9XXJTIfBhFiogMTrF_YTQ2oJLzp55kEMrq3zfl4gMwasNR-x7CbX9239bb3aQGPJmQEiUvqeW6B_GTsk0Hs8vGW6HBb/s320/arihoeniggrab.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398909456362773522" border="0" /></a><br />Speaking to drummer <a href="http://www.kimnara.com.au/">Simon Barker</a> in the coffee line at the Hot Jazz Cafe in the new WPAC [Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre] on Saturday morning, I was singing the praises of Ari Hoenig, and it turns out that what I saw, heard, LOVED, at the Ari Hoenig gig on Friday night is something that Ari Hoenig known for...<br /><br />The first thing I look at in a drummer now, after talking to Simon and seeing Emma Franz's film Intangible Asset #82 is how they sit, how they play, what their body is doing. Ari Hoenig seems to have a combination of ready and relaxed. I love the way he sits on his stool. He's watchful, poised and responsive.<br /><br />The Ari Hoenig Quartet (with Gilad Hekselman, guitar; Jamie Oehlers, saxophone and Sam Anning, bass) was my first music of the festival. I had left my pen with the sticky tape and stuff and all I had in my bag was a 'sharpie' one of those thick texta things. No finesse. My notes are rough, but my memory is clear. The interaction between the players was wonderful. 'Here I am', I thought. At Wangaratta again. Some great interaction. Gilad Hekselman's guitar and Jamie Oehler's saxophone holding conversations. 'Light tension' are the words that stand out from my notes. Threads of sound and light moved between the players and it was as good to watch as it was to listen to.<br /><br />The highlight for me was 'Moanin'', the Bobby Timmons tune made famous by Art Blakey. Ari played the melody, with for a moment, Jamie providing rhythm with the tenor saxophone. Using his elbow apply varied pressure to the drum skin (is that what it's called??) this amazing drummer played the notes and the spaces, creating a sound that didn't even sound percussive. All these notes flowing, with pauses... and best of all this feeling on the stage of fun, of barely surpressed laughter and wonder, that spread from us in the audience up to them and back to us again. Hah!<br /><br />Picture by Francesco Truono from Ari Hoenig's website http://www.arihoenig.com/Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-35681979072622050612009-10-30T18:30:00.000+11:002009-11-01T10:30:00.527+11:00extempore launch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyuOqgwXmpJzDAgnIvHJ46rN7fErxzE3hugXE7hYBRr6W5QomCYqDtmAxfYJLxYSOWGXN7MuEBIkHvooXtehKalzUvr-E0aJC8jWvzO4LaHEKjUiAl-YtLodKk-c6tAxDLLdX4e3RBI/s1600-h/launchviewiss3-350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 111px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmyuOqgwXmpJzDAgnIvHJ46rN7fErxzE3hugXE7hYBRr6W5QomCYqDtmAxfYJLxYSOWGXN7MuEBIkHvooXtehKalzUvr-E0aJC8jWvzO4LaHEKjUiAl-YtLodKk-c6tAxDLLdX4e3RBI/s320/launchviewiss3-350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398897759057199442" border="0" /></a>Nothing like a bit of blatant self interest on a blog. But then again, I like the idea of starting a jazz festival with a launch of a journal inspired by jazz and improvised music. I'd attend even if I didn't have to!<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">extempore </span>Issue 3 was launched with a quiet celebration at the Supper Hall at St Pats. Mike Nock launched the journal this year, as he did last year. He's been a great friend of the journal and yours truly, and his launch speech was short, sweet and to the point. Geoff Page read his poem from Issue 3 ('What key's the conversation in?') and 'The Documentation' which appeared in Issue 2. John Clare did an improvised excerpt from his essay 'I cutta the balls off!', also from Issue 3. He stands at the front, balancing on the balls of his feet as he declaims, and the audience is transfixed, as you can see in the picture.<br /><br />Everything seemed to go without a hitch which given the day's dramas was a relief. Yours truly had been running very late so had done a quick change in the back room (off with jeans, boots and shirt, on with frock, red shoes, jewellery and lipstick). Incredibly proud of this achievement (the journal, not the quick change in the back room) and terribly tired from it all. I'm told there were 90 people there (we had 75 last year) and I wish I'd had time to chat to everyone. But there you go. And so the festival begins...<br /><br />And thanks to Steve Doig (hallmaster), Baddaginnie Run for the wine and Milawa Cheese for the... ummm... what was it again?... oh yes, the CHEESE!Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-43455896141624578152009-10-30T07:37:00.004+11:002009-10-30T07:45:42.308+11:00National Jazz Finalists Q&As<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5VozYgBPcVCNEROpVDfic7d4fVHHXCgsSDEDOS_K1DRFiKp55Xix1EAHPWJ2UpSb2OeTm9fKYDb61GgJCVCKKOqAmz9B8_U2G8XXq9r4dnrZvYZqBLzm3Zjq6ZpZ1o4dGH2o5O8866Px/s1600-h/stylised.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398124361958537186" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 218px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5VozYgBPcVCNEROpVDfic7d4fVHHXCgsSDEDOS_K1DRFiKp55Xix1EAHPWJ2UpSb2OeTm9fKYDb61GgJCVCKKOqAmz9B8_U2G8XXq9r4dnrZvYZqBLzm3Zjq6ZpZ1o4dGH2o5O8866Px/s320/stylised.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Well, here it is again... Wangaratta Jazz, rebranded and 20 years old . We've started our festival with the Q&As with the National Jazz Awards finalists that have become an institution around here. Five years in a row!</div><div></div><div>Check them out on the Jazz Australia website > </div><div></div><div><a href="http://www.jazz.org.au/features/366">http://www.jazz.org.au/features/366</a></div>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-2260755140378754652009-05-30T22:17:00.004+10:002009-05-30T22:30:25.285+10:00Belated farewellI know it's a week after the festival finished... everyone else has long ago said their goodbyes. We're so hooked on immediacy in this fast paced world we live in that a week can seem like too damn long in blogger-land!<br /><br />April and May in Melbourne were enormous for jazz and improvised music. With <a href="http://www.melbournejazz.com">Melbourne International Jazz Festival</a> followed by <a href="http://melbournejazzfringe.com">Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival</a> and then <a href="http://www.stonnington.vic.gov.au">Stonnington Jazz</a>, the weeks went by in a colourful blur. At the end of it, there's a chance to take stock and look back. It's been a good one. We've been incredibly fortunate this year.<br /><br />It's been lovely to have a fellow blogger at the festival(s). <a href="http://ausjazz.net/">Roger Mitchell</a> was a little more energetic than I, and definitely showed me up on the photos department! If you're not already, I'd recommend you follow <a href="http://ausjazz.net">his blog</a>...<br /><br />And if you want to keep up with what's happening with this little black duck, you can do so here, at <a href="http://www.miriamzolin.com">www.miriamzolin.com</a> or at the <a href="http://www.extempore.com.au"><span style="font-style: italic;">extempore </span>website</a>, where you can also subscribe to the free newsletter.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-13492718508866162862009-05-23T23:19:00.005+10:002009-05-30T22:15:27.952+10:00Sculthorpe Songbook Project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMfM-0WwQ6JdyqsXpaZZlweo3VIjjj4E5ZW_s1PxfG0paF56bqfIH_p2ZtGP52x9424DU86quQPdehp1-XVlG0O3Uw40Z1-OLc346xLCNKOi6wTxyL0LoFQDjZFb_UqZn2dpADvqTXi0L/s1600-h/slatermcmahonelphick.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMfM-0WwQ6JdyqsXpaZZlweo3VIjjj4E5ZW_s1PxfG0paF56bqfIH_p2ZtGP52x9424DU86quQPdehp1-XVlG0O3Uw40Z1-OLc346xLCNKOi6wTxyL0LoFQDjZFb_UqZn2dpADvqTXi0L/s320/slatermcmahonelphick.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340853132735367810" border="0" /></a>Difficult to categorise, but you know when you're introducing a group of musicians of this calibre that something beautiful could happen. It's a trust thing.<br /><br />Calibre? Phil Slater (trumpet), Matt McMahon (piano), Carl Dewhurst (guitar), Simon Barker (drums), Steve Elphick (bass) and the <a href="http://www.myspace.com/silostringquartet">Silo String Quartet</a>. Guest vocalists Katie Noonan and Tim Friedman. That should do it.<br /><br />And if you also know that the music they are working with is filled with space and textures, complexity and a wide range of influences, another dimension of expectation kicks in. Somewhere I read that this is 'a unique contemporary cross-genre collaboration that re-imagines the music of Peter Sculthorpe'. Looking back over the two evenings I heard this concert, I could agree with that!<br /><br />The music started with Carl's guitar, a slow building hum to a vibration, then a gong from Simon... the piano starts quietly and then Steve bows the bass. Phil's trumpet sounds out. We're off. There's a wild look in Simon's eye.<br /><br />This first piece was 'Singing Sun'. The music chosen for this project comes from a wide range of Sculthorpe pieces. We were walked through it by Phil, Matt and Tim... I'd heard two of the songs before... the Calmo movement from Sculthorpe's piano concerto is on Matt's CD <span style="font-style: italic;">Paths and Streams</span> and Bone Epilogue is on <span style="font-style: italic;">Strobe Coma Virgo</span> Phil Slater's 2003 CD. I'm blogging this a week after it happened and it's been bugging me all week 'Where had I heard that track before?' It was only my favourite, on replay replay replay when I first heard <span style="font-style: italic;">Strobe Coma Virgo</span>.<br /><br />There are other writers who will do a <a href="http://ausjazz.net/2009/05/23/stonnington-jazz-%E2%80%94-day-9/">better blow-by-blow description</a> of what they heard. For me, subjective as usual, I was excited by the opportunity to hear / see Phil, Matt and Simon play together. They have a special something that comes from a deeply shared sensibility or approach. Carl's playing with all of them, separately and together, taps into that. Steve Elphick is a bass player I've always admired deeply. Also from Sydney, he has played with these musicians before, too. He is a great listener but mostly I think what I love about his playing is that along with his willingness to have an adventure, he has a combined lightness and sureness of touch.<br /><br />Let's go to Katie. I was a big fan of <a href="http://www.myspace.com/georgetheband">George</a>, which is where we first heard her I guess. This was all before I started to listen to this <span style="font-style: italic;">other </span>music. And I haven't always enjoyed Katie's voice in the jazz context, though I've been an admirer of hers for years. Tonight changed what I feel about her voice; I liked what I heard.<br /><br />Then the Tim Friedman. The connection(s) with Sculthorpe gave him one reason to be there and I loved the additional texture that his voice and singing added.<br /><br />The string quartet added yet another type of texture. And while other punters told me that they wish the strings had been used more, I'm not that brave. I had what felt like the perfect amounts of everything going into my ears.<br /><br />As for the music. Such a tapestry, such a landscape... The first night (Friday) I took hardly any notes. I guess I was just open to whatever was being offered. The second night I (barely) pulled myself together and put pen to paper.<br /><br />Highlights:<br /><ul><li>Eyes and ears wide open in happy surprise at Katie's singing on 'Maranoa Lullaby'</li><li>Phil's acknowledgement of Peter Sculthorpe and of Sculthorpe's sources and his gratitude at Sculthorpe's letting them 'mess around' with his music.</li><li>Simon's solo with chains in 'Pemunkah' and the way that Carl's guitar sounded like a choir in the background </li><li>The dark, hollow sounds in this song, and the way Phil's trumpet wove like golden light through the darkness</li><li>The story behind 'It'll Rise Again' and Tim's singing of it. He had more fun on the second night. I guess it takes a night or two to know a room. </li><li>Phil's trumpet again on 'Music from Kakadu'</li><li>Katie (again) on 'The Stars Turn'. The palpable longing. Matt and Caerwen (cello). </li><li>The way Tim's and Katie's voices complemented each other in 'Love' (from Sculthorpes'<span style="font-style: italic;"> Love: 200</span>)</li><li>The lyrics of 'Out the Back' and the string movement in it.<br /></li><li>On 'Bone Epilogue' Steve Elphick sounding like 3 instruments at once with his playing and bowing and plinking below the bridge </li></ul><br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://ausjazz.net/2009/05/23/stonnington-jazz-%E2%80%94-day-9/">Roger</a> for the pic and check him out for more detail on this concert.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-68556164030270291162009-05-23T01:32:00.007+10:002009-05-23T02:02:51.163+10:00The Streets of Stonnington (Stephen Magnusson)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV-yiTr6qK_qyYTXXifInTwPbOFHtE_LQ85YS7_XbVPaOOUdzykbwkqky_v2q1w1qPo-h0bb3CKSoxlsl6EWBgdT_ddF0v9L8i2evHzffn3l_OLD0yewoJo6pz8APsJERKItRg3lgIsbS/s1600-h/mag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMV-yiTr6qK_qyYTXXifInTwPbOFHtE_LQ85YS7_XbVPaOOUdzykbwkqky_v2q1w1qPo-h0bb3CKSoxlsl6EWBgdT_ddF0v9L8i2evHzffn3l_OLD0yewoJo6pz8APsJERKItRg3lgIsbS/s320/mag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338677593300113714" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 21 May (2nd set) Chapel Off Chapel</span><br /><br />Stephen Magnusson (guitar) was joined by Eugene Ball (trumpet & flugelhorn), Frank di Sario (bass) and Dave Beck (drums).<br /><br />Highlights were:<br /><ul><li>'TM' was the starting song - Stephen being lyrical, gorgeous.</li><li>Then the Ornette Coleman tune 'Roundtrip'. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Oh, oh, oh"</span> say my notes. <span style="font-style: italic;">"Eugene on the trumpet and Stephen on guitar at the same time."</span></li><li>'Goggles' [no notes taken] </li><li>Then all was forgotten as the band launched into 'The Streets of Forbes'. As noted in the <a href="http://jazz-australia-blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/blbb-with-gian-slater.html">Gian Slater</a> blog entry, this has some significance, for me. I found myself singing the words inside my head... what a treat this was! Eugene's gorgeous trumpet playing with deep, low sounds. Of course there is no mystical connection with Stephen's choice to play this and the existence of the song in my own personal life. But I got a thrill anyway. And can't help wondering if there's an opportunity or some interest to do a CD of Australian Bush Ballads. Stephen? You listening?</li><li>Two final songs - 'Gabrielle' and 'Hey Guess What', during which Stephen and Eugene had some fun, and so did we! Did i hear the Simpsons theme (among other things)?</li></ul>Thanks <a href="http://ausjazz.net/">Roger</a>, for pics again! Good ones!Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-10673650101686985122009-05-23T01:06:00.004+10:002009-05-23T01:31:30.383+10:00Tony Gould's Trio<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_aSoDRyjAPPjqYYb3miqbzrvEBHtRApKaHdt1CTrMZG7FvtrUQVxVFacEsn1VikG35uf0HzZ2S1BLaWb1l7tYpyrV2IlX53UjZwYW1smWfHJmvFZlFREufJGgVc0r6NnY5LhzQH8d3Bu/s1600-h/gould.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_aSoDRyjAPPjqYYb3miqbzrvEBHtRApKaHdt1CTrMZG7FvtrUQVxVFacEsn1VikG35uf0HzZ2S1BLaWb1l7tYpyrV2IlX53UjZwYW1smWfHJmvFZlFREufJGgVc0r6NnY5LhzQH8d3Bu/s320/gould.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338670846318034914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thursday 21 May</span><br /><br />Chapel Off Chapel, with Tony Gould (piano) Imogen Manins (cello) and Gianni Marinucci (trumpet and flugelhorn)<br /><br />If one of our jobs on this planet is to create beauty (I find it hard to disagree with the concept) then nobody's going to argue that this trio did their job very very well this evening. It really was beautiful - not just because that's the closest adjective to hand.<br /><br />Oh, and Tony was wearing <span style="font-weight: bold;">very cool shoes</span>!<br /><br />Songs by a number of composers. Tony made a point of mentioning that they were playing some pieces from non-locals!<br /><ul><li>21.4 - look it up in the Bible. Apparently it has some significance. Note to self. A tune by Bob Magnusson (assuming no relation to Stephen) </li><li>Gianni's Flugelugelhorn on this was typically beautiful. A round, golden, mellow sound. </li><li>Lullaby by Gianni followed, bringing a tear to the eye for some reason. Or maybe it was a reaction to the smoke machine. </li><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_All_in_the_Game">It's all in the game</a> by Charles Dawes, later Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge.</li><li>Bill Dobbins' Spring Song and I can almost hear the birdies tweeting</li><li>Lullaby by Tamara Murphy. I heard a sniffing noise. There's a punter in the audience having a bit of a cry. </li></ul>I hear it was 'a bit too beautiful' for a punter or two. Well, it takes all kinds<br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://ausjazz.net/">Roger Mitchell</a> for his pic of the trio. <img src="file:///C:/Users/Miriam/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-12.jpg" alt="" />Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-30702726212941456942009-05-22T00:43:00.003+10:002009-05-23T01:06:10.464+10:00Paul Williamson Quartet<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 20 May </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY93UIcDxgJ7eegJHcdZ2oyM2d6etW6XGSYic5A8Fdd2hWa_vL4EHQWHV2H31onhAo2PhmMOCxk6ImM1iXtaYJ5je1VaMm2fS6_3uuaL5tYK6LvuYqpWiWJMWAv1S5kkQgHfSMxTullQro/s1600-h/jamesmclean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY93UIcDxgJ7eegJHcdZ2oyM2d6etW6XGSYic5A8Fdd2hWa_vL4EHQWHV2H31onhAo2PhmMOCxk6ImM1iXtaYJ5je1VaMm2fS6_3uuaL5tYK6LvuYqpWiWJMWAv1S5kkQgHfSMxTullQro/s320/jamesmclean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338663732339506130" border="0" /></a>Scary stuff this announcement and introduction job! Some musicians introduce their songs and their personnel. Some don't. Paul Williamson (trumpet) is one of the latter. Ah well, I guess that's way things go.<br /><br />Paul has been in Ireland and the pieces this quartet played tonight were written there, from an outsider's perspective (so says the media information).<br /><br />Playing with Paul tonight were Geoff Hughes (guitar), Des White (bass) and James McLean (drums). Is James as young as he looks? He looks about 17. I really enjoyed his playing. He was paying attention, watching, adjusting... and engaged. Geoff and Des are that sort of player too so it was an interesting set.<br /><br />With no announcements, I asked Paul for the set list afterwards. There were four songs:<br /><ul><li>Aftermath</li><li>You're only a Muppet.</li><li>Green land, grey skies</li><li>Knuckles and chuckles (whose name puts me in mind of Ireland simply from the stories my brother told me from when he lived there for a while)<br /></li></ul>Picture of James McLean thanks to <a href="http://ausjazz.net/">Roger Mitchell</a>.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-14283539386332966902009-05-22T00:04:00.001+10:002009-05-23T00:42:47.792+10:00Jex Saarelaht Quartet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s5NrN8QU83h5eetmsjK6oRwQLyVAZo015VpZea2tlBVe2glMr1YRpJIkD1m9wMjKPr3ss8GOzi3Y9xeoiYRqxVnYBV7CyQGo9wIJffJZ45CiIob7ze3bFQ2M-j2PICnGJgI8ol9BGEPs/s1600-h/jex.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s5NrN8QU83h5eetmsjK6oRwQLyVAZo015VpZea2tlBVe2glMr1YRpJIkD1m9wMjKPr3ss8GOzi3Y9xeoiYRqxVnYBV7CyQGo9wIJffJZ45CiIob7ze3bFQ2M-j2PICnGJgI8ol9BGEPs/s320/jex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338651434879220786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday 20 May</span><br /><br />Chapel Off Chapel again. Jex on piano, Julien Wilson on tenor sax, Johnathon Zwartz on bass, Niko Schauble on drums.<br /><br />Such a pleasure to hear Jonathon. Last time I heard him was at a gig with Tina Harrod singing and Hamish Stuart on drums and Matt McMahon on keyboard at a pub in Sydney. His CD The Sea is a beautiful thing.<br /><br />Jex has a smiling way about him. I asked him if there was anything he wanted me to say during the introduction. "Whatever you want" was his reply. So that's what I did. It's easier tonight than it was last night. I aksed the lighting guy to adjust the light so that I could see something other than glare and the front half of the microphone... and I guess that announcements get easier with practicse.<br /><br />And then the music. This was music that made you want to look up to the sky.<br /><br />I think that's why the song titles are all mashed on my page, except the third one, 5 19 (it's harder to mash numbers)<br /><br />Things I noticed, while looking skywards:<br /><ul><li>Niko's extraordinarly large and floppy cymbal. It's spectacular to watch - like a big jelly fish. </li><li>The softening interplay between Jex on piano and Julien's sax on the first song.</li><li>The solo by Julien in the second song</li><li>Jonathon's introduction (wow!) to 5 19</li><li>The joke that Jonathon and Jex were sharing in the fourth song (what was it!?)</li><li>Julien's whistling saxophone in the last song.<br /></li></ul>Set break and raspberry tea...<br /><br /><blockquote>DID YOU KNOW That if you take a cup of raspberry tea half way through a glass of 'okay' shiraz and then go back to the shiraz, it's suddenly better. A strange but effective way to improve a glass of wine. Highly recommended!</blockquote><br /><br />Thanks to <a href="http://ausjazz.net/">Roger Mitchell</a> for pictures again.Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4125948631886366738.post-49367174037209905952009-05-21T01:19:00.002+10:002009-05-23T02:01:33.156+10:00BLBB with Gian Slater<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sstJ9GcpnK59xsF1I_Inb2WiYpVK6lCawoj1CSXtdIoZpP8eY8zTs9KwCU-OTEhCEo43X953t-JPBRxNIFW2jR89v0y2foL6VV1saf0L3OtwYng-klBy0jmOIs_ZBpQmaW3RZz7iZ_cI/s1600-h/gian.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0sstJ9GcpnK59xsF1I_Inb2WiYpVK6lCawoj1CSXtdIoZpP8eY8zTs9KwCU-OTEhCEo43X953t-JPBRxNIFW2jR89v0y2foL6VV1saf0L3OtwYng-klBy0jmOIs_ZBpQmaW3RZz7iZ_cI/s320/gian.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338306583706600450" border="0" /></a>Interesting to feel the different texture in composition between Andrea's pieces in the first set and Gian's in this set. Highlights from this set include 'Don't close the door' - the band was loving it and that meant we were loving it too!<br /><br />'When...', which featured Andrea Keller and then the really interesting depth of texture with the combination of Gian's high voice over Adrian's bass trombone.<br /><br />You could feel the warmth between Gian and the band... they all know each other well and it's palpable. And it seeped through in 'The Warming Kiss of Kindness' which rather yummily featured Ian Whitehurst and Adrian Sherriff.<br /><br />A latin feel to 'Logical Guesses', arranged by Tim Wilson and featuring Eugene Ball. The set finished with Our Galaxy.<br /><br /><blockquote>On the way home, I found myself singing. For the last 30 (eek!) years or so I've either had old cars or motorbikes so I have a number of 'car songs'... (or 'bike songs'). Something about the Gian Slater and Bennetts Lane Big Band gig made me want to sing. The four main ones are 'If I loved you' from the musical <span style="font-style: italic;">Carousel</span>, and three little traditional Australian folk songs... 'One Sunday Morning', 'The Ballad of '91' and 'The Streets of Forbes' Convicts, striking shearers and bushrangers... I don't hear these songs alot; they feel like a private stash of music that nobody knows about... I sang all these songs on the way home in my little old car (and no I don't sound anything like Gian Slater) and I only mention this because of what happened two nights later, on Thursday... <a href="http://jazz-australia-blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/streets-of-stonnington-stephen.html">Read on</a>!<br /></blockquote>Miriamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18108906213518724686noreply@blogger.com1