Zapped

Zappa has been on my radar for years but not so much on my turntable so a retrospective like this was a blessing and a huge excitement. And this one was a learned outing. Gathered by Steve Fitzgerald after his Masters studies of Zappa and informed by musicologist Stephen Loy who speak between sets on Zappa, the Mothers, the '60s, pop and avant garde and Adorno. As for the music, it's similarly complex and considered and influenced and a mass of work to prepare. Lots of 16th-note unison lines and odd starts and stops and changing rhythms and whimsical grooves. The original had plenty of famously sly lyrics, too, and Clare presented some of these in tunes from mid-first set on. The two sets were very different. First up was more acoustic, or at least, less rocky, read, no drums: vibes, alto/soprano/flute, Rhodes/Moog, double/e-bass. The second set added tenor and screaming guitar, Zappa's instrument, and Steve switched from vibes to kit, so louder and heavier and rockier. We learnt of Zappa's influences in C20th "classical" music - Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Varese, Cage; of Adorno's critique of art as commodity or resistance; of Zappa's perverse approach of innovation presented as a "product" or "entertainment", contradicting Adorno's perspective; of Zappa's catholicity in querying whoever, straights or hippies; of his clever contrariness joined with biting hilarity - Stephen Loy quoted Zappa: "I'm really just a phoney but forgive me 'cos I'm stoned" or "Is there any art at all ... it really doesn't matter". So much for pretensions when the guy who says that is a master. Also interesting was to touch on these "fine music" influences in rock at the time, on the Beatles (Revolution no.9, Sergeant Pepper, etc). Little time to touch on that, but it's significant that Zappa's music was recorded by the LSO and Boulez. Steve's vibes were a huge pleasure, classically trained and vital and so precise; Callum played the hardest of lines with panache and some great solos; Clare did a great job, mostly Rhodes, sometimes with effects, some Moog synth and a great take on some very challenging vocals; Jared's bass was a pleasure, great tone on double and demanding reading throughout. The second set had Steve on snappy and superbly apt rock drums (one of very many pleasures on the night), Josh on tenor with one memorably searing solo and Matt Lustri doing a fabulous take on Zappa's solos, all busy and dirty. Zappa was prolific but had an exceptional band and following in the early '70s (I saw him on tour in Adelaide at this time) and much music was from then. The finale was Peaches en regalia; others included Black page, Uncle Meat, Don't you ever wash that thing, Twenty small cigars, Sofa, Echidna's arf, Idiot bastard son, Zombie woof, Watermelon in Easter hay, Son of Mr Green Genes. Names that suggest the times but also Zappa's wit. So, a great night that must have taken a huge investment of time or some exceptional reading (probably both). I loved it and learnt lots.

Steve Fitzgerald (vibes, drums), Calum Builder (alto, soprano, flute), Clare Fitzgerald (Rhodes, Moog, vocals), Jared Plane (double and electric bass) played Zappa. They were joined for the second set by Matthew Lustri (guitar) and Josh Buckler (tenor). Stephen Loy (musicologist) spoke between sets.

Sundae jam

Another drop in to the Sunday afternoon jam session at Smiths. Again with house band Josh Buckler, Hugh Barrett, Anthony Irving and Andrew Howard. Today's visitors included singers Erissa and Claire, a guitarist (sorry, forgotten your name), Tom on guitar, Geoff on drums and two bassists, Phil Dick and me. Given recent visits by Brendan Clarke and Ben O'Loghlin, there seem to be a session, a six-string, a collective of bassists around. This was great fun. I got two tunes in, with bassist Anthony doing a quite decent job on piano. Sunday afternoons suit me: it's a quiet time. Just one of two regular jazz jams in town. The other is Wayne, Ben and Mark at Old Canberra Inn on Wednesday nights. Both are capable and welcoming. Get to one or both when you can, to play or just listen.

The Smiths Jazz Jam house band was Hugh Barrett (piano), Andrew Howard (drums), Anthony John Irving (bass) and Josh Buckler (tenor). Sit-ins included Erissa and Claire (vocals), Tom Sherringham (guitar), Geoff (drums), Phil Dick and Eric Pozza (basses). (Names updated, thanks for the comment / Eric)

Daily duties

It was an orchestral practice interrupted to set up for a Tilt gig. I was sorry for the first, enjoying Mendelssohn and missing a Tchaikovsky symphony (no.2 - it's great). But duty calls in the form of a gig at Mercure Canberra, long known as the Ainslie Pub, for the Canberra Truffle Festival. Truffles in an adjacent room; bar through another door. We had the stately lounge for jazz and it was a blow from the first. Busy, some dancing, easy chatting and a few listeners. We played jazz and standards and blues and some modern with substitutions and polyrhythms and the like, and also some jazz-twisted pop tunes, not least a new one from Daft Punk. At least new to me. I'm a great believer that everyone should have something they recognise: when they do they come onside and are open to standards, Shorter, Miles, whatever. I sometimes wonder how we can get paid to do this, but they like it and so do we.

Then next day, the Smiths jazz blow. Strong on bassists. Brendan Clarke was playing as I arrived. Eric Ajaye was inside to play a gig after the jam session. The house bassist was Jace Henderson with fellow bandsters Josh Buckler, Hugh Barrett and Mark Levers. I played a few tunes with a singer, not least Honeysuckle Rose, then Beatrice again to finish off. Thanks again to Josh and co.

Cool jam

The sun was out but it had been -7degC overnight, so it wasn't hot. Nonetheless, the Smiths jam session was outside on the footpath using the public piano with its keys missing a few ivories. Cool out of the sun but it was a great session. The standard tunes. Josh leading with the house band. Sit-ins included recently relocated Brendan Clarke and Wayne Kelly for Miss Jones. I sat in for Beatrice with Hugh and Mark and Josh and others. Anthony Irving is the house bass: first time I've seen him and I was impressed. He's a leftie playing a bass set up as right-handed; think Hendrix. Some really nice music and good cheer and pleasant in the sun, until it got low and the cold set in. Then it was the end. Much enjoyed.

The Smiths Jazz Jam house band was Hugh Barrett (piano), Mark Levers (drums), Anthony John Irving (bass) and Josh Buckler (tenor). Amongst other sit-ins were Brendan Clarke (bass), Wayne Kelly (piano), Eric Pozza (bass).

Mulling on jamming

All of a sudden there seem to be jazz jams around. I'm mulling this at the moment. Why, the multiple jam sessions when the performance scene is otherwise so dilapidated. The ructions at the jazz school reduced the numbers of students around town; the regular touring bands have mostly disappeared; the lively jazz experimentation seems lacking or maybe it's underground. But we have these jazz jams. There's still a desire to play with others and to find colleagues. Maybe it's the disruptions that lead to this scene. Whatever, I attended the Smiths Sunday session to find a great host band and a few sitters in. A comfy scene, good music and some obvious appreciation from the non-jazz followers. So worthy, entertaining and enjoyable. Keep it up.

The host band at Smiths Sunday session was Josh Buckler (tenor, convenor), Hugh Barrett (piano), Barney Briggs (bass) and Mark Levers (drums). Sitins were Andrew Howard (drums), Mitch Preston (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Apricot?

A new jazz jam session for Canberra. I have known of Sunday Sessions at Smiths for some time, but they've recently been taken over by jazz jammers. It was run short for another event this weekend, but I got there for an hour. These were some very good players. Hugh Barrett, convenor Josh Buckler, Jason Henderson and Mark Levers. Sitting in we Suhasini Sumithra, Andrew Howard and Eric Pozza. Mark likes it hot, so there was some pace here, not least Stella with stellar effort. Otherwise, standards like Black Orpheus, Footprints, There will never be another you, Beatrice, blues. Not surprising the playing was nice: Hugh plays sequences through dissonance with ease; Jason is an army reserve player, big chops and well versed; Josh is quick and clever in his lines and melodicism; Mark was just driving it hard; Sumi sang a lovely Manhã de Carnaval / Day in the life of a fool / Black Orpheus. Nice company and good fun all round. I got to play Beatrice and Stella on speed. Thanks, great fun.

The Sunday Session at Smiths featured host band Josh Buckler (tenor, convenor), Hugh Barrett (piano), Jason Henderson (bass) and Mark Levers (drums). Sitins were Suhasini Sumithra (vocals), Andrew Howard (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Farewell Cam

It was Australia Day and maybe we shouldn't have been at a band having a good time, on a hot day, being Indigenous aware as we are. There's politics here, just ask cantankerous, reactionary ole Barnaby J, but Cam Smith was having his last gig with Brass Knuckle Brass Band before he returned to his place of origin, Qld, and I wanted to say goodbye. It was at Smiths, outside, hot, shaded for some, decently loud, delightfully cosmopolitan, tats or business shirts, all manner, and beers, coffees and a general jovial good will. It's a pleasantly diverse collection that gathers at Smiths (thanks to Nigel and Beth for such a nice venue) and a joyous and welcoming atmosphere and the band was nothing less than chugging and noisily inviting. Good and tight; perfect for dancing; drums and percussion; charts for harmonies of horns; that lovely lumbering and enveloping sousaphone bass and all so nicely played. Some march tunes with New Orleans references, some two feels and pop tunes arranged for the band. I recognised the pop as Careless whisper (with help), Sweet dreams, Sexual healing. That was just the first set. How much fun is this, rollicking and joyous, musically capable and an irresistible invitation to dance. Was Trump right about art being just for entertainment? He was wrong about that (there's lots he's not right about) but sometimes it can be for fun and this was and it was a great outing. I guess the BNBB will continue, but farewell Cam, thanks for so much local music and, thinking back, for your help with a few festivals. Congrats also to Xavier Kim for the piano interlude before the gig.

Brass Knuckle Brass Band played a farewell gig for Cameron Smith (trumpet). If I have all the names, right, the rest of the band is Tim Bowyer (trumpet), Michael Bailey and Josh Hart (trombones), David Abkiewicz (sousaphone), Nathan Sciberras (baritone sax), Josh Buckler (tenor sax), Steve Fitzgerald (drums) and Damon Counahan (percussion). Xavier Kim (piano) preceded.