Jaminagin

Tuesday night, Smiths jam.  Megan's busy and less classical so I've got to a few jams recently.  And enjoyed them immensely.  Tonight was Greg Stott with Chris Pound and Gus Henderson for a very lovely host band.  Playing several tunes by the greatest composer of the C20th, suggested Greg, only partly in jest.  I remember sitting behind Greg and Mark Sutton, perhaps James Luke, at the Burt Bacharach gig at the Royal Theatre at the National Convention Centre early Nov 2015 and being stunned by the string of lovely melodies and huge hits, so many that the Look of love, Alfie, Wives and lovers, Walk on by, I say a little prayer and the like were just dumped in one of two huge medleys.  Beautiful playing and beautiful tunes from the hosts.  Then a string of the recurring jammers, plenty of singers, Nitya on soprano, a good friend Alysa who I got to play with, perhaps an oversupply of ballads, given the singers.  I was hoping for at least one take on Giant steps, something more up, but feeling the ballads through is a challenge in itself, changing feels and intensity over time and solos.  So great fun once again, and if you are interested, follow the link below to read my report on the Burt Bacharach gig with not a little admiration for Burt's compositions.  Greg, I can only agree: perhaps not the greatest composer but a pop composition genius.

Greg Stott (guitar), Chris Pound (bass) and Gus Henderson (drums) hosted the jazz jam at Smiths.

Burt Bacharach in Canberra  /  Setlist

Exotic jam

I got to another Smiths jazz jam and the host band was playing a cute tune/song in Cantonese called Eyes on me from the computer game Final Fantasy VIII.  Suffice to say I didn't know it but there were sounds of recognition through the room.  Then a renowned pop hit Sukiyaki, originally by Kyu Sakamoto, with and introduction about the lyricist's sadness after the 1960 ANPO Treaty that allowed the location of US nuclear weapons in Japan despite the US nuclear bombing of Japan in 1945.  A fascinating but apparently discrete response. The host band on the night was Jonathan, Cheuk, Jeremy and Mark and it was Jonathan who sang the lyrics in Cantonese and Japanese.  Quite an achievement and a fascinating look at these musical cultures.  Then on to a series of singers and other performers and general good will and sometimes confusing song calls with Nitya, Peter, Mitch and more.  Maybe I got over excited, playing my MIM JB, but I called Giant steps and finally, when most had left, we played it; a challenge but not impossible.  Otherwise a great night much enjoyed upstairs at Smiths.

The host band comprised Jonathan Bscrt (vocals, tenor), Cheuk Cheung (piano), Jeremy Tsuei (bass) and Mark Levers (drums).

Jampacked

I got to the latest Smiths jam and it was a string of varied players of various levels but as always a love of the art.  Many were local I'd seen at this session, but there were also new people with various instruments, not least singers.  This incarnation was led with inspiring bass playing and inviting stage management by Ben O'Loghlin.  Several names I've mentioned before at these jams, not least Mic, Oliver, Mark, Simon H, Jeremy.  I was interested in Simon Milman on guitar and how he didn't just run chords but moved over harmonic structures.  Oliver was something like that too, and Mic lithe and flowing over the tune while Simon Halabi was more evident, rhythmic and historically engaged. As for Ben, you could see his mind working to recover and interpret each tune, unfazed and great memory.  All interesting.  But I'll highlight Flynn Marcus.  I've seen him at events and heard him sometime back, but this was the most recent outing that I've taken in and I was floored.  Lovely, lovely tone, expressive plays on melody and the song with occasional explosive runs, perhaps scalar, perhaps dissonant, perhaps pentatonics, and a presence that supported players and easily took on a leadership role.  I guess he has easy access to training and his gear is good and obviously well setup, but a very fine player already.  As for me, I couldn't handle the heavy house bass, but had a go on fretless e-bass later and struck some very tricky post-bop I'd heard but never played, so an exercise not done too well but enjoyed none-the-less.  Thanks to all.

Blues crews

Ah it is fun to grab the JB and tail it down to the Canberra Blues Society jam session on a Sunday arvo and have a nice simple blues blow with that loud and clear backline.  The host band this day was Wally & Eric Crew and they are long termers in the CBS and authentic in their renditions and voices so a great pleasure.  The first item I encountered the CBS was yonks back at a venue near the Manuka Oval, was it the first location of the Eastlakes Club?  Then Tuggers, Austrian Club, Spanish Club, perhaps more, and now the Harmonie German Club with a decent hall and wonderful gear.  I'm revisiting recently.  My blow band just came together literally minutes before we went on stage.  Vox, 2 x guit, bass, drums.  Just three tunes, loud, D blues, A blues, an original with instructions: E, don't play the third. Well I played maj and min thirds in chromatic runs and b7 of course and it was a blast.  Again, noisy.  Aaron on vox, I missed the other names but drums was an ex-Army Band Euphonium player.  Big smiles.  Then a string of bands with familiar faces, some of whom I'd played with.  Once again no pic of my jam band.  Just one excellent German beer (dunkel) on tap and I had to leave before the end, but I came away with a smile on my face.  It's not complex music but it does have its style and authenticity and can merge into rock and it is fun.

Wally & Eric Crew were the host band at the Canberra Blues Society jam session at Harmonie German Club.  W&EC comprise John Van Buuren (guitar, vocal), Steve Hartnett (harmonica, vocal), Brian O’Rourke (bass) and Jonathan Jones (drums).

Mo' blues

Well I don't have pics of all the bands at the Canberra Blues Society jam session, a few because I had to leave early and another because I was playing in it.  It's fun to get out an e-Bass (my preference is a run-of-the-mill Fender MiM JB) but I never play it other than for the Blues jams, so it's a bit of a new experience, but it is light to play.  And fast... I can get carried away!  Otherwise, Key Grip was the host band for the session and they were great to hear, well informed on blues and related styles and capable players all round.  The jammers were consistently capable too which bodes well for the blues in town and perhaps is a function of the blues training offered, esp to next gen.  Still, the audience numbers were down, perhaps given Hendrix the previous night.  But a nice outing and friendly people and great stage gear to indulge in.  Much enjoyed.

Key Grip are Leo Joseph (piano), Angela Lount (vocals), Lauren Thurlow (tenor), Alec Coulson (bass) and Mitch Preston (drums).  Key Grip were the host band for the monthly Canberra Blues Society jam session at the Harmonie German Club.

Gremlins not

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).

Jamagain

I am somewhat overwhelmed by processing and Wesley Holy Week recordings and more but I managed an evening at the Smiths jazz jam.  I caught up with a friend I'd not seen in jazz contexts and played for a least a few tunes with the band.  Perhaps jams go this way, but the players were all the same as I remember from the last jam there and interestingly several singers so several ballads.  I find the singers tens to define the music that gets played.  Singing is, after all, the most immediate and personal for of music making, and there were some decent singers.  And guitars, horns, interestingly, a range of percussion.  Not quite a drum circle but a rhythmic feels even if with no latin tunes that I remember.  Whatever, it was fun.

Jazz jams are held at Smith weekly on Tuesdays.

Expectancies

I missed Jaco playing our local jazz cub after a Weather Report gig in Adelaide and, I think it was Wayne Shorter doing the same in Sydney.  Anyway it was a long shot that Victor Wooten would drop in to the jam session at Smiths but I visited at the last minute with unlikely anticipation.  It was the first gig of his tour so maybe he was in town, wondering about the locals.  He didn't turn up but I got a play.  Wayne and Gavin and Mitch were there but I missed playing with any of them but Peter was hosting and he had a fascinating e-bass I could borrow.  Ibanez (EHB1506MS?) fanned frets, 6-string, fabulous tone and deliriously confusing to play.  I haven't played 6-string for yonks, very little recent e-bass, and never fanned frets, but when you got it right, the tone was to die for through a Fender amp with tone set flat.  Thanks, Peter, local doyen of intriguing instruments.  And I heard more jazz news but more on that later.  As for Victor Wooten, he didn't make this post but he will make no. 3,101.

This is CJBlog post no. 3,100

Outings

A morning tea and musical chat led to some playing suggestions and later the jam at Smiths.  It's a relaxed session.  I got to play a few tunes, Nature boy and So what, with its defining bass line, and somewhat unexpectedly, what, Dolphin dance in Db.  Then some time with various other sitins and singers.  Interestingly a pair of female buskers with some delicious if unconventional harmonies.  And several saxes, Richard on his tenor and two female altoists, including a fluent Kristen McGee who told me she was returning to playing.  So a relaxed outing at Smiths and once again, thankfully, we avoided crashing the life drawing session.

Jamtime

Family friend Alysa invited me to the jam session at Smiths given her band were the hosts for the night.  It was upstairs and I managed a beer without accidentally joining the life drawing class.  It was pretty quiet at first but then various players joined in.  I didn't chase names this evening but there were several (3?) pianists, two drummers with host bassist Michael as one of them and otherwise Smiths-haunt rock steady drummer Mitch, a few saxes and a clarinet, a few guitarists and singers, including host Alysa.  Thanks to Michael for use of his gut-style bass, strangely fat and soft and pliable under the fingers.  Interesting.  Peter and I did a few tunes with two basses, a first for me: Peter on his intriguing Ibanez SRAS7 fretted/fretless 7-string and me on gut double.  The tunes on the night were mostly reliable standards.  I enjoyed what I played but sadly missed Have you met Miss Jones, a fave for its early Giant steps B-section.  Ballad Lover man appeared twice and was a pleasure.  But all good fun and chatty so thanks to Alysa, Michael, Mitch, Peter and all.  Just some pics.

One sweet jam

Not too many came to this Smiths Jam.  Maybe there was some confusion over listing?  I hadn't seen it earlier but it was there in the evening.  Whatever, it was a nice outcome for me.  Mitch and I arrived at the same time and Greg was alone playing guitar in the upstairs bar.  I got the double bass from downstairs and Mitch got his sticks and we were a trio.  The bass sounded OK but with a nut too high for my hands but I got in some walks.  Then Michael arrived with an NS electric upright bass.   Michael took over on drums when Mitch left and I got to play the NS and it was a dream.  We had a few pianists  and vocal/flute and a string of decent standards and jazz tunes.  Such a pleasure to play and especially to play with Greg, wonderful player that he is.  So, an opportune night to get to the jazz jam at Smiths.

Fresh jam

It was a strange entry to John Mackey's new jam night at Smiths.  I expected it was upstairs in McGregor Hall (as advised online) and innocently walked in on a life drawing session but was hussled out very quickly.  The jam was downstairs this week.  Then a few greetings and a few jam bands and a chance to play a couple of numbers with new jammers, Night in Tunisia and Misty.  The bass was pretty heavy work to my ageing hands but you adjust.  More to the point, there was no bass pickup so the music was limited in volume.  Our tunes were OK if somewhat a struggle to settle on Misty.  Strange that!  John didn't play but some local stars did and they were truly impressive, as expected: Tom, Chris, Matilda, Simon and others.  Then through more players and more who might have played but didn't.  I caught up with Alysa but she didn't sing this evening: singers have the added issue of changed keys, although chords, if not melodies, are pretty well handed with tech these days.  Perhaps not the hottest jam I've attended, partly for the bass volume, but a good outing none-the-less.  Thanks to John for the new session and the chance to meet some new players.  PS thanks to John for the pic of my jamming band.

John Mackey runs a jam session each Tuesday evening at Smiths.

An end of an era

It's sad to see a venue disappear for jazz but it's not the first.  Venues change musics for business reasons or they are supplanted in a style or activity by another venue and they may or may not return to jazz sometime in the future and jazz just survives through it all.  Jazz goes through changes, not always comfortable but it's not extinguished.  The ANU ructions of a few years back is the big example.  The venue changes is just another smaller one.  Sadly, we saw the last of the jam sessions at Old Canberra Inn last night and it was entertaining and fun and cold (being outside on a suddenly chilly December evening).  But then I remember jazz there decades back, so maybe there's a return sometime in the future and it was pleasant.  A few beers and a too-big hamburger.  A very nice bass with good sound and nicely easy to play (thanks to Ben).  A chance to check out Evah Pirazzi.  Thanks to Ben, Peter, Simon, me and Jeremy for the bottom end and a string of players and singers of all manner otherwise and some chats to pass the time.  This is a sad loss but there are alternatives and jazz survives.  After all, it's not even the only jam session in Canberra on a Wednesday night.  And to OCI, thanks for the memories.

Thanks to Ben O'Loghlin for the long history of this jam series and this specific monster jam at our lovely, historical Old Canberra Inn.  Thanks to Sophia for the final pic.