Always celebrate

I mentioned our International Jazz Day in a recent post but I didn’t expect to mention World Intellectual Property Day here. I work at IP Australia and I was surprised to find Dirk Zeylmans entertaining staff at our Great Inventors Barbeque. I shouldn’t be surprised because Dirk pops up frequently around Canberra. This time he was playing standards in a drumless trio with ANU students Jordan Tarento and Chris Vanderweel. As well as the band, there were demonstrations by inventors of windmill pumps and mango peelers and stubby-holder gloves and more and presentations and awards from our senior managers. It’s modern corporate practice to celebrate achievements and it’s a pleasant way to catch up with fellow workers who you don’t see every day. It’s also a good way for the organisation to put out a message, in this case innovation (IP Australia is the Australian regulatory body for patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeder’s rights). I noticed several people with journalist pens and pads and video cameras and audio recorders. And I'm sure it was Lyn Mills (who also pops up frequently around Canberra) who was photographing for the Canberra Times social pages. Dirk Zeylmans (tenor) played standards with Jordan Tarento (bass) and Chris Vanderweel (guitar).

Radiothon

ArtSound lauched its Radiothon this weekend. Lounge suits were de rigueur, there were drinks and canapes and ArtSound’s patron and Viceregal consort, Michael Bryce, gave a few humourous words and formally opened the Radiothon.

Dave Rodriguez and Lachlan Coventry entertained in the background, and Tony Magee and Chris Deacon migrated to the Yamaha C6 grand in the studio for an impromptu concert. I hadn't heard Tony before, although he's well known around town. He's got an impressive memory. Firstly Gershwin and Cole Porter then on to Moonlight Sonata. The Beethoven was lovely romantic stuff, nicely played and not too protracted, and it was all pretty much on call. The Canberra Times social photographer, Lyn Mills, was also there and I managed a snap of she who is normally the other side of the lens.

Best of luck to ArtSound and their fund-raising. Feel free to ring and make a donation to a good cause or even just finally do the right thing and become a paying member. They do great work for jazz and all the arts in Canberra.