Strange name

They have a strange, if descriptive, name. And they play strange, if adventurous, takes on Summertime and My favourite things. I was warned for Summertime, but I wasn't for Favourite things and I didn't pick it. Strange, too, that this band won a chamber music competition. But they are young and skilled and searching, so it's appropriate. They are Three Men One Chamber. I'm not sure I particularly get the reference, other than through the competition, but they were good. They play those twisted standards, but also takes on various current pop tunes as well as originals. I think it was the busily virtuosic tune called 13-7 that won them the competition. That was the last tune and it was a standout. Plenty of unison playing in odd times by guitar and bass. I was pleased to find a new and interesting bassist when they covered the tune Daylight, by LA bassist/singer Thundercat. They also took on an Aphex Twin tune, but I show my age by remaining non-plussed by this style. The players are Brendan, Stephen and Hayden. Brendan's bass is upcoming at the School of Music and a player to watch. Stephen and Hayden were less extravagant but I found both very satisfying. Very nice little band. Their success in a chamber competition may be unexpected, but it's obviously valid on the strength of this outing.

Three Men One Chamber are Stephen Read (guitar), Brendan Keller-Tuberg (bass) and Hayden Fritzlaff (drums). They played an "Out to lunch" session at the Ainslie Arts Centre.

Young guns

They were some decent musos. I was expecting a band with Mike Price, but we got a series of young players, mostly in the first year course at ANU, and they were good. They ran through a series of jazz tunes and standards. They got the lines and complexities. Several drummers and guitarists, one bass and one sax. I knew Calum from previous gigs and he played really well. I enjoyed all the guitarists, and interestingly, preferred different guitarists on different tunes. They featured on the styles that they obviously preferred, or maybe practiced. Bass was impressive with some very melodic solos and drums were solid. It all bodes well for the future. Not sure I got all the names right, though. I didn't stay for the jam session, but this part was worth the visit.

Mike Price (guitar) gathered a series of young players and sat in for some tunes. Players included Calum Builder (alto), Stephen Read (guitar), Pat Quin-Quirke (guitar), Tyson Jones (guitar), Brendan Keller-Tuberg (bass), Hayden Fritzlaff (drums), Kaitlin Ashley-Thomas (drums). Perhaps others.