Rundle Maul

You can get a mauling in Rundle Mall when the sales are on. You need some calming recuperation, and I got it this year from two buskers: violinist Agnieszka Kosacka and Stickist Andy Salvanos. Firstly, Agnieszka. I was initially attracted by the strong and authoritative sound of her violin. I noticed it was assisted by a pickup and amplification, but this was firm technique which was just confirmed by some well balanced and evenly arpeggiated bowing over multiple strings. Agnieszka is Polish and a professional. She plays weddings, funerals and the like. Just proof of the great classical training they are renowned for in Eastern Europe. The next encounter was both short and unexpected. This was Andy Salvanos playing a Chapman Stick. These are uncommon instruments. This Stick was only the second I remember encountering, although I know them moderately well from ads in guitar mags. Sticks come in 10- and 12-string versions. The original 10-string Classic Stick tuning was five melody strings in descending 4ths and five bass strings in ascending 5ths, although all manner of tunings are possible. Andy was playing a 10-string. You play it by tapping chords and bass lines and melodies with right and left hands. The sound was rich in harmony and accompaniment, guitar-like in tone and almost pianistic in musical structure. I found it quite unexpectedly attractive. Again, a civilised interlude amongst the so-busy shoppers.

Agnieszka Kosacka (violin) and Andy Salvanos (Chapman Stick) were busking in Rundle Mall soon during the post-Christmas sales.

Not so qt@Xmas

Jazz-wise it’s quiet for me this Christmas. I’m in Adelaide and haven’t managed to find any gigs at suitable times and haven’t happened on any bands. But the buskers had me thinking how cultured and interesting is our street life these days. Rundle Mall is the main shopping street in Adelaide and I caught this capricious mix of styles. The Australian Girls Choir was singing lovely harmonies with massed high voices. They were obviously well prepared and well practised and singing a predictable repertoire of Christmas songs. Appropriate to the season but a bit tame for me. Then a small group of young tap dancers. Tap returns! I liked this, mostly for its life and excitement and rarity. Great fun and excellent exercise although some of the rhythms were just a bit out. The kids playing nice Christmas tunes on violin and guitar were predictable but lovely to hear. Then the Asian links. I’ve just been reading of Asian connections in Australia jazz and how this is a feature of the Australian art (Eric Griswold in conversation with Peter Knight, in Extempore, no. 5, 2010, p.34-46). There were two Asian links that I heard this day. First was a bloke with an Asian hat, a dulcimer-like instrument played like a guitar and plenty of loops and effects. Second was shamisen player and Japanese singer, Noriko Tadano. I really liked Noriko with her harsh Japanese vocals and that banjo-like three string shamisen. I later discovered she’s appeared at WOMAdelaide and various Melbourne jazz events and even won awards for her shamisen playing in Japan. See some videos of Noriko on YouTube. It’s not a normal sound for my ears, but I found it refreshingly new and fascinating. To finish the night, I caught an escapologist at the Bay. What a wonderfully eclectic mix of buskers … such a lively street life.