A pub with a flying saucer hovering over: another boho venue, this time in Adelaide's city centre and with a weekly jazz jam. I took my e-bass and the crowd and the space was fairly small. The full range of Coopers on tap. I drank dark. Then the host band started and they were a blast, fabulous playing all round, playing a first set celebrating his life just days after the death of Sonny Rollins (d. 25 May 2026). So, Pent-up house, Decision, Waltz hot, Ellington Way out west and Eternal triangle with Sonny Stitt. Lithe and mobile alto, truly fascinating lines and apt from guitar, quick expressive bass with great tone, driving drums oddly toned down in effective solos to my ears. The players were Tom Noonan, Django Roh, James Ho and Craig Laurenson appearing as The Gremilys (at Grace Emily Hotel). It set a high bar for a jam session. A player I'd seen at COMA came up for the first jam, as I remember on Airegin (I hadn't realised but this is Nigeria spelt backwards), then more jammers of a decent standard if not quite the openers. Only a few tunes and not all just 32- or 12-bars. I sat in for The more I see you with a singer leading from first year at the Elder Con. The bass was heavier and higher actioned than mine and occasionally sliding out, but nicely strung and well amplified so I was pretty happy. Then a final tune from the band to close the night and out. I chatted with a woman more my age and it turns out it was her son who had sung. And more chats with first time attendees chatting about jazz jams and improv and not having played with or heard any of the fellow jammers and The Wheaty and COMA. I had been amused by jazz newbies dancing back from the loos or jogging to the high intensity jazz. So such a fun night, just finished off with the Coopers Dark, so pleasant.
The Gremilys were the host band at the jazz jam at Grace Emily pub in Adelaide. Th Gremilys comprise Tom Noonan (alto), Django Roh (guitar), James Ho (bas) and Craig Laurenson (drums).
No comments:
Post a Comment