Canberra Cosmo Capital?

CJ's Belgian correspondent reporting.  Seeing we cannot experience the music scene in Belgium this year the next best thing was to check out what is happening locally.  Smiths Alternative has kicked off with an outdoor Spring series starting last weekend to help us all get out of the COVID lockdown blues.  The series is held under the new marquee on the pavement and can cater for 90 people under the current rules, no mask wearing, except when going inside.  Drinks and food however can be ordered from the window. Each session only costs $10 so inexpensive entertainment.  The series started on Saturday with The Burley Griffin. We only caught the last song as we were wandering around Civic from elsewhere, a great local band.  Decided to come again on Sunday to see the Brass Knuckle Band.  Now I must admit I can never keep up with who are the members of this group.  At least I did recognise Tom Fell on sax, what bands doesn’t he play in?  A great afternoon of music in the balmy weather.  A few tunes recognised but I blame the ales for not remembering them now.  Thanks Smiths and the musicians for helping us to open up again.

Pic and text by Neal Gowan

PPS / Ed.  It seems that the Smith's Spring series is now cancelled due to noise complaints ... for a quiet, early Saturday afternoon gig (2-4pm) of an unamplified New Orleans-style brass band.  Well, brass is noisy, but it's fun.  So much for Canberra Cosmopolitan Capital.  See the Facebook comments below.  Oh well, oh well, oh well.  Thanks Neal, even if it's a sad story to tell.  Not the first of those in CJ over the years.

• Pics and comments on FB

PPS2 / Ed.  Rethink!  Well the series seems to be still on.  Probably inside.  Canberra reigns supreme ... sort of.  Good on ya, Smiths, Nigel, Beth.  Check out the Smiths Alt. Calendar online for the Spring Series.

• Smiths Alt. Calendar

Jazz messages from Brussels

Our CJ Belgian correspondent is at it again. As if the election wasn't exciting enough for him. Neal and Anne are in Brussels at the Music Village bar (not far from the Grand Place) to see a tribute to Belgian sax. That's apt given that Adoph Sax, the inventor of the modern saxophone, was Belgian. The band comprised four saxes, bass, drums and piano, playing Jazz Messengers, swing and the like. He says it's damn hot in Brussels; presumably the jazz is too. Thanks to Neal. I'll check it out soon enough.

Pic by Neal Gowan

Jef on home turf

Pics and text by Neal Gowen, CJ’s foreign correspondent in Belgium

Yes we are in Belgium again and catching some more music. Two weeks ago we went to see a free concert by Jef Neve. It was in the Gent suburb of Sint-Martens-Latem and was part of a celebration for the official opening of the refurbished riverbank area of the Leie River, which runs through Gent. The event was organised by the local Sint Martens-Latem Flemmish equivalent of the town council. Free beer, food and music. The Belgians know how to organise a do! Jef only played a short 45 minute set consisting of compositions such as Kundalini and Solitude from his new CD. The PA was great and a top quality sound for the reasonably large crowd. I caught up with him and his manager Pieter for a quick chat afterwards. Sint-Martens-Latem is quite a wealthy suburb and home to many artists, sculptors and musicians. Jef’s practice studio is actually the white building in the second photo, nice location right next to the river. The sculptures are typical of what is dotted around the suburb. / Neal Gowen

Zarlardinge jazz 2

Pics and text by Neal Gowan, CJ’s foreign correspondent in Belgium

1. The stage
2. 15th century mirror balls
3. Big Band '86
4. Jos Machtel, BJO contrabassist
5. Big Band 86 trumpeter
6. Bert Joris trumpet, flugelhorn
7. Dieter Limbourg, BJO sax, flute, clarinet, and Jos Machtel, BJO contrabassist
8. Marc Godfroid, BJO trombonist, Big Band 86 leader
9. Frank Vaganee, BJO Conductor, alto & soprano saxophone, flute with Bert Joris
10. Frank Vaganee
11. Bert Joris
12. BJO trumpeters from left, Serge Plume, Nico Schepers, Jeroen van Malderen along with a Conservatory student
13. And a Mac to rule them all :)

cheers, Neal

Zarlardinge jazz 1

Pics and text by Neal Gowan, CJ’s foreign correspondent in Belgium

Your Belgian correspondent checking in again :) We are over here (Belgium) again for 2 months. Have been mostly checking out the food, beer, museums and taking in some good music. Last Thursday we went to see the Big Band '86 again. The band is headed by Marc Godfroid, a trombonist with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra (BJO). Marc is also a teacher of jazz trombone at the Conservatory of Ghent. The band comprises teachers from the Conservatory, students and some other members of the BJO.

Normally the band plays in the small Café De Eendracht in the town of Gerhaadsbergen, about 55km south-ish of Gent in Belgium. However this time it was a special celebration of the band's 100th performance since forming in 1986. This show was held outside Gerhaadsberben at the village region of Zarlardinge and inside a 15th century barn on a farm. The change of location was due to the popularity of the band and the number of people coming to see it. And the best part, the show was free! … apart from the beer :) Some top Belgian jazz players were sitting in on the gig, including Bert Joris (trumpet, flugelhorn) and the conductor of the BJO, Frank Vaganée (sax). There were also additional members of the BJO outside those already playing in the Big Band '86.

The 15th century barn itself was a typical old vaulted ceiling building but with a purpose built stage and lighting at one end and a permanent bar at the other. Large ceiling beams blocked a little of the players heads but not too much of a problem. The family who own the farm host a number of shows during the year. This show was great (maybe it was the Belgian beer). The acoustics were pretty good and the PA did its job. The crowd a bit noisy near the bar with a number of "shooshings" from the front during the night. Tunes varied from big band style to Miles-esque, and some that reminded me of the old Daly Wilson Big Band days.

Somebody has put up YouTube clips up of bits of the show:

Bert Joris playing one of the quieter tunes at the show
Dieter Limbourg BJO saxophonist
Vid

cheers, Neal

Gent again

Pics by Neal Gowan

I think he's coming home soon, but Neal's still at it. He's sent a few more pics of the Genste Feesten (Gent Festival), a music and arts festival in Gent, Belgium that runs for 10 days, July 17-26. Everything from classical, jazz, world, rock to hip-hop along with drama, dance, street theatre, puppetry and more. A number of the main stages are set up in the central city square underneath the Belfry and churches: very atmospheric. The sun sets around 10.30pm here the main acts often go to 3am. Apart from the stages here are many buskers plying their trade on the streets. The largest group was 30 musicians from the Netherlands Stroat Ensemble jazz band. The first jazz group here was the Bram Weijters Trio with Nicolas Rombouts, bass, and Steven Cassiers, drums, along with Angela Morris playing sax. The group got together at Antwerp Con.

Genste Feesten website

Stroat Ensemble

Geraadsbergen

Pics by Neal Gowen

Geraadsbergen is a small town south of Gent in Belgium. Neal Gowen and An dropped into this bar and caught two bands. Neal reports that Big Band 86 was very good. It’s led by Marc Godfroid of the Brussels Jazz Orchestra and the SWR Big Band and comprises students and staff of the local conservatorium, at which Marc teaches. More info at the links below.

Marc Godfroid on Facebook

Big Band '86

Gent

Pics by Neal Gowen

CJ's mate Neal Gowen of ArtSound is in Belgium and sent a few pics of the Gent Jazz Festival. The feature was Pat Metheny and supporting acts included radioKUKAorkest, Jungle Boldie (with Tony Overwater), and Odean Pope & His All Star ‘Odean’s List’. (All new to me). The festival is held in the Bijloke which used to be the Gent hospital but is now an arts centre. Neal’s partner, An, was born there a few moons ago.

Moody giraffe

Text by John Baczynski, pics by John & Neal Gowan

In direct contrast to the frosty weather outside, the James Annesley Quartet from Melbourne delivered a warm and thoroughly entertaining performance to the delight of a very appreciative audience. The physical layout of the Gods Café also encouraged a fabulous intimacy, often lost in larger venues, making the night even more enjoyable.

Opening with a Bob Dylan cover, "Girl from the North Country", Annesley (tenor and soprano sax) calmly and confidently played evocative floating solos. The rest of the night consisted mostly of originals, with a couple of standards thrown in (Tutu and You Don't know what Love is) all played in an expressive modern jazz style. A stand out was the original "Idle hands do the Devils Work" which not only showcased many of Annesley's abilities on the saxophone, including circular breathing to extend a trill, but also gave Hugh Stuckey the chance to demonstrate his great talent on guitar. Stuckey clearly enjoys his playing and is a delight to listen to as he constructs clean, precise, and fast expressions throughout his solos. Rhythmically, Hugh Harvey (drums) provided a solid foundation to all of the pieces. Hugh created a particularly trance-like mood during his solo for "Giraffe" in which he effortlessly produced an array of fascinating sounds from his cymbals and then shifted back to a organic feel by playing his kit bare-handed. Tom Lee on Bass was flawless throughout the night and his playing was given prominence during the sax and bass duo "Claustrophobia".

As a whole, the quartet displayed an intimate understanding of each others musical vocabulary and technical ability which resulted in a lush, layered and varied sound that was interesting, considered and precisely executed. It was also great to see a group clearly enjoying what they do. Well worth seeing next time they come back to Canberra (hopefully soon).