Busy-ness

It was a busy musical weekend, what with 2 jazz gigs and a Beethoven 7 rehearsal and later a concert and a committee meeting.  No pics for the two gigs, but a big thanks to Hugh who sat in on drums for one and who was playing the second when I was sitting in.  My sit-in was with Simon Halabi at Blue Eyes, that intimate cocktail bar.  Simon sings, too, so not just the standards as instrumentals but also a few borderline jazz songs, like Peggy Lee's take on Fever.  Nice and well received.  Not an easy lug and only more demanding given ongoing works in Garema Place (more ongoing works...) and rain and a very confusing parking station.  But two gigs much enjoyed.  But no pics on either night...

Tilt Alt played Dickson Taphouse on Friday night with James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Hugh Magri-Bull (drums).  Simon Halabi (piano, vocals) played Blue Eyes on Saturday night with Eric Pozza (bass) and Hugh Magri-Bull (drums).

Six strung

Tilt is going increasingly Alt.  This time, James was off for Easter and it was Mark and Jeremy, in this case playing guitar rather than Shostakovich bass.  It was pretty quiet, even in Dickson, given a double holiday weekend and Good Friday.  Even this heathen feels Good Friday may be an unusual night for a jazz gig but there are plenty who won't recognise it.  And guitar was quite a change from piano, so this was a different gig.  All standards which we both recognised or knew and a desire for dirt, as in effects, but maybe we ended up pretty mainstream clean.  Jeremy's solos and accompaniments were great but quite different but it brought out some melodic solos on my part that I really enjoyed.  Whatever, a great and much enjoyed night out.  We'll do it again sometime.  And great chatting to a surfeit of trombonists, one local (TraXion?) and Sophia.

Tilt Alt. was Jeremy Tsuei (guitar), Mark Levers (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Good out

Good to get out for some jazz.  I'm busy with all manner of classical music, which I love and some of which I play, but jazz remains a long love and this was a corker.  A corporate gig with a contented and welcoming audience and we play our music, standards and James', and the sound is good and we are playing well.  Relaxed, welcoming and a nice beer and some nibbles.  Such a nice night out, playing, if too rarely listening these days. Close to home, too.

Tilt were James Woodman (piano), Mark Levers (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Doing the drum rounds

I'd played with Hugh Magri-Bull but it was only at a jam session and a jam session is just a few tunes on different gear and nothing like a decent gig over three hours.  This was a Tilt outing at the Dickson Taphouse and it's a great place to up the energy for essentially jazz musicians.  Most of the DT bands are blues or rock so the background is noisier and the audience is involved.  At least the audience that's close in and there are spots throughout for eating, listening, sunning and more.  We had some recurrent listeners from pervious gigs and some musos and dancers to please and even a few staff of Better Music.  Otherwise, a little quiet given Enlighten Festival but much enjoyed.  Hugh was our latest invitee in the drum stool and a worthy player, inventive in solos and responsive in ensemble.  A great night even if I forget a pic until too late.  And many thanks to Hugh.

Tilt performed at Dickson Taphouse comprising James Woodman (piano), Hugh Magri-Bull (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Connection

I'm a zealot of late for at least one thing: connection by the band.  We don't play mega-stages or claim art audiences so the role of the band is to entertain and do it with decent musicality and that all happens through connection.  We played a gig the other night and it was a huge pleasure.  We played well and were applauded and danced and listened to and that's a function of connection.  Not a lot is required, but a smile and introductions serve well as a starter.  It's largely incidental but direct: I don't even use a mic.  Just seeing you communicating goes a long way.  Management noted that people came in off the street and that it was a busy night for this time in Canberra (famed for empty roads and locals at the coast).  I noticed the presence of audience up close and enjoyed that a couple asked how long the break was so they could get back for the next set and they stayed to the end.  It's satisfying when people stay to the end and they often do.  And how nice to get some compliments from the bar staff.  It reminds me of a lesser gig where we got approval but a description of "lounge music".  Mmm.  I prefer something more immediate and more fun.  It's taken me decades to learn this (I'm just a bass player, after all), but some contact is a wonderful thing for a band and it's so often forgotten by jazzers.  And then there's how you dress.  That's another discussion but to ignore it is still another choice.

Thanks to Wikipedia Commons and Simon Byron for the pic of the Bar Clochard coverband (Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0)

Planets and other pleasures

I haven't played too much jazz recently, but when I have it's been satisfying and hugely pleasurable.  Maybe some time away makes you hark for the steady swing.  Dunno, but my walks have been more interesting with nice voice leading and the like, so great.  This was our long-standing gig at Red Hill Primary School.  It's a visit to the past for me, having had two boys at the school, now capable professionals, and not just a year or so out.  It's history for James, too, as this was the 10th anniversary of our first gig together, here, at RHPS.  We played with sit-in drummer Somesh Putcha and he plays with another bass mate, Jeremy.  This is so Canberra jazz, actually, being a small world.  Jeremy is our man in NYC right now, and Somesh is off sometime soon after several previous visits.  World jazz is also quite a small world.  But we enjoyed some intriguing takes on standards and some very rhythmically sharp drum solos and a few of James' originals and sausage sandwiches and beers and active kids and chattering parents.  Such a good night, especially without threatening rain (we've had some very wet nights here in the past) and with some clear skies for one or two planets (Venus and Jupiter are bright in the West and East and Saturn's there too at the moment).  So all was well and much enjoyed at this always-pleasant community event. Obviously we forgot the selfie.

Tilt Trio performed at the Red Hill Primary School end-of-year gathering.  Tilt were James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Somesh Putcha (drums).

Sandwich

Not too many gigs these days but then think quality not quantity (although frequency can also correlate with quality).  But this was a good gig, with James and Mark and me at OCI.  It actually sandwiched my NCO films gig with another at Mercure on Saturday night, so there was at least considerable frequency this week.  Both Tilt gigs were great fun.  At OCI, I got out the P-Bass for a few funkier lines, but mostly the double and that felt lithe and sounded full.  Mark just played snare and high-hat given some kick problem but still blew the place out with his understated syncopations.  James has been playing with increasing litheness and inventiveness of late and this just continued.  So all was well.  Thanks to James and Mark.  And to Liv who was double-booked.

Tilt played at Old Canberra Inn and Mercure with James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Mark Levers (drums).

Stars in eyes

It's not every Tilt gig that gets on to CJ.  We have some secrets!  But this was a great gig and we had an appreciative audience that hung around until we finished then left which is a good sign for the band and we played really well and I played the second set with my newish Japanese Fender P-Bass 1985 with lovely aftermarket Motown-styled pickup and I was renewing my feel for the diminutive e-bass and we even did a funk jam with Rhodes tones.  That's not our normal way but it was nicely firm all round.  And the ceiling was interesting thus the pic.  Thanks to James and Mark for a great night.

Tilt played at Old Canberra Inn.  Tilt was James Woodman (piano), Mark Levers (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Spectrum bottom ender

Tilt Alt. played again at Old Canberra Inn and as often happens we had a visitor half expecting a jam session. This is actually a great pleasure and sometimes we have sit-ins. This evening we just chatted to Ben Jones. Ben plays bari sax in Spectrum Big Band and perhaps involved in its admin. With any luck we'll get that sit-in at another gig. At least we got a selfie with Ben.

James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Mark Levers (drums) played as Tilt at the Old Canberra Inn. Ben Jones (baritone sax) listened and chatted.

Thanks Sean and all

It's an amazing and fabulous thing that jazz players can come together and play decently with no history, or at least no personal history.  The history that serves is the studies and practice and listening that makes for the essence of jazz.  So Dave couldn't do this gig and Sean sat in.  And it was a great gig and very much enjoyed by us and well complemented by listeners as they left and even as encountered on the streets.  That's nice.  Mostly standards, and that's part of that history mentioned above, but also several tunes from James that aren't just walks. Congrats to Sean for his ear.  It happened a few weeks back, too, at Old Canberra Inn, when only I could make it and the sit ins made up 2/3 of the band, namely Ross and Mark.  But this was another entertaining and challenging gig to everyone's entertainment including us.  How I love music like this!  Casual with beer on amp but deadly serious too.  Jazz is something special.

Tilt Alt. were James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Sean Kirk (drums) at Molly and Ross Buchanan (keys), Eric Pozza (bass) and Mark Levers (drums) at OCI.

Bands make parties

 

It's an indulgence, but I like to write up any gigs here where I've played with new players.  Ollie was on Friday and Liv and Imogene were at a wedding on Saturday.  Plus Steve, who we've played with before.  The wedding was in a back garden in Hackett for James K, a singer from In Full Swing big band, no less, so relaxed and comfortable and a nice place to settle into playing with new musical mates.  Unusually for us, we had a singer, Imogene, who studies at the Jazz School and also sings classical with some of the best choirs in town, and a second singer, groom James, introducing the music with a chorus of his own.  Plus Liv for some natty guitar solos and the practice of melding the two chordal instruments, piano and guitar, which, in the end was no particular problem given two capable and listening musicians in our James W and Liv.  And Steve, who we've played with in the past, sharp and correct and unobtrusive when not out front but then ready and explosive when passed a solo.  My playing grew gradually more even and settled as the day went on, so that was satisfying.  Then a final DJ set for the dancers at the reception; in this case there were none given no dance floor and the early afternoon timing.  But the departure of the band pretty much marked the end of the day, which was probably a fairly long day for those who had attended the wedding service.  It's understandable but also something I have noticed before.  A band is something special at a party and its performance can define place and time, so when the band stops, so does the party.  It's seldom said but I've seen it over and over.  Live music is a special thing and it makes a party, or makes a scene.  This was just one more instance.  So thanks to all, Liv, Imogene, Steve and James and our wedding hosts James and Rose.

An augmented Tilt played at the wedding of James K and Rose.  Tilt Aug. comprised Imogene Blake (vocals), Liv Uebergang (guitar), James Woodman (piano), Steve RIchards (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

10 years

It was Red Hill Primary School's end of year party and Tilt was playing again and James reminded me that this was the 10th anniversary of our first gig together.  Time passes, as they say.  we've done quite a few of these events, for year start or end, over the years since and it's something we enjoy immensely with kids and happy parents milling around and sausages and the like on tap.  Dave has caught Covid so Mark filled in for this gig and it was a beauty, despite my return from little playing.  It seems the muscles come on tap as required and double bass does require considerable muscles in those hands and fingers.  So thanks to James and Mark for a driving and entertaining outing and looking forward to Dave next up. Unlike several previous incarnations, no storms this night despite the theatening sky.

 Tilt Alt. were James Woodman (piano), Mark Levers (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Flooding

So much for pouring, our gig at OCI was flooded.  We were playing in the back room with a low floor in an old building and the rain was heavy and suddenly we were flooded.  The water arrived suddenly, rising fast enough to demand we interrupt a tune to unplug and move instruments and amps.  The staff got busy but there was still water when we left.  In the meantime we had a goodly laugh with the audience and each other and moved to the main room.  Thus a memorable gig, for the flood but also  for the music.  James had a family event and Dave had Covid so they couldn't play, so it was a makeup band with Ross and Mark and me, terribly out of practice after weeks away.  But it all came together for a great fun gig with an interesting twist.  So climate comes to effect our gigs, too.

Tilt alt. performed at Old Canberra Inn.  The flooded band was Ross Buchanan (piano), Mark Levers (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Dinantians

Another gig at OCI and a few visitors and sit-ins but that was not all.  We're playing differently recently, more varied, sinuous, changeable, and that's huge fun and satisfying.  I'm enjoying my solos all of a sudden where I'd been somewhat lost.  I have ideas why but not for here, but any muso knows the comings and goings of this game.   That's the nature of live performance , especially improvised jazz performance, but also for a band that doesn't play too often.  Summer is threatening and the audience at OCI is growing, if outside.  We had a few groups of mates, not least Annabel and Alysa and Cedric and Anna.  Alysa and Anna sat in for a few tunes in different keys, as is the way with singers.  All hugely enjoyable and somewhat a variation on the standard Tilt scene, although we often enough invite friends up to perform.  Also a visiting drummer from the days of the OCI jam sessions.  So much fun and quite successful.  We don't ask for much more.  As for the Dinant reference, that's the birthplace of Adolphe Sax and the destination of an outing with Alysa and Anna in Belgium some time back.

Tilt Trio performed at Old Canberra Inn with sit-ins from Alysa Ingles (vocals) and Anna Davies (piano).   Tilt are James Woodman (piano), Dave McDade (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Whiskey's a warmer

The Glenfiddich Whiskey Wanderer was back in town and Tilt took a gig in the open in mid-winter Canberra.  Just 2 hours, but suffice to say we were concerned about the cold.  Just look at the puffer jackets: not pretty.  In fact, in the end, there was no wind, the temp was ~7degC and I was mostly too hot.  But hot is good for jazz and this was a best eva, but I've been saying that too often recently.  Suffice to say we played well, nice driving rhythms and lovely solos, some adventurous free forays, one almost endless solo coaxed from Dave.  Let's face it, when playing fours you can't squib and you also can't determine how long it goes for.  Someone bought me a whiskey and tonic and it was interesting although I drink mine straight.  And a cash tip even fell on Dave's snare at one stage.  Generous!  As for the venue, it's a 1972 Leyland double decker bus that's been decked out with bar and seating and an upstairs lift-ceiling.  Self-sufficient and cute.  We were so taken by it all that we just played a single, long 2-hour set.  We've been enjoying longer sets recently although not to 2 hours straight, but when you're on a high, make the most of it.  So quite a night to remember.

Tilt played at Molly for the visiting Glenfiddich Whiskey Wanderer 1972 Leyland double decker bus.  Tilt are James Woodman (piano), Dave McDade (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Another Hofner variation

That very night (the night of the Beatles tribute) Tilt played at Old Canberra Inn and Richard dropped in to play a few tunes.  We didn't play any Beatles, but I reckon the Fab Four would have taken such a selfie, at least  in their early days, if they had our mobiles.  My bass even got a look in, so again a Hofner variation.  This was great fun and we played well but we've played too little this year.  Not sure why, but probably to some degree a function of self-promotion.  Despite this blog, we are not too good at that.  Like my alter-ego studio band, The Pots, with its few monthly listeners.  I notice lots of other players, often well regarded or with significant musical history with just a few monthly listeners like my The Pots.  A mate from a schooldays band who went on to play with the best in Australia and toured OS contacted me this week and his albums have a similar listener base.  But this was a good night out, some drinks and food, some nice bass solos and grooves and for me that's the purpose of all this anyway, at least after so many years.

Tilt Trio played at Old Canberra Inn.  Richard Manderson (tenor) sat in with James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Dave McDade (drums).

Old

The Old Canberra Inn is about the oldest European built thing in Canberra.  A hand hewn timber slab construction from 1857, originally a coach stop, rough but a great hangout with history and character and ambience.  So when we got an offer out of the blue to play there, we took it.  The news was that jam sessions fortnightly and band gigs the alternate weeks.  OK.  We had a great gig and a great audience and played well.  Not sure, though, that the message went out, as a few blokes arrived with guitar and kit components.  We got to chat with a visiting muso from Sydney but he was just there for a dinner.  And Leo Joseph dropped in for some of the first set.  I would have liked to talk to a few of the others but nothing came of it.  We played two long sets and no musos around in the breaks.  Whatever, the jam scene has opened up now in Canberra, and I know of at least regular jam sessions around Canberra.  So all is well and we enjoyed the gig.  Thus ends a busy few weeks for me: two significant classical gigs and three jazz gigs.  Plus an album release and various recordings.  That's lots for this bassist.

Tilt Trio played at Old Canberra Inn.  Tilt Trio are James Woodman (piano), Dave McDade (drums) and Eric Pozza (bass).

Visits

I was surprised to see Anthony Irvine arrive at our Molly gig.  He's a capable bassist and he said later he'd just come to hear Tilt Trio.  We are a retiring crew so I was somewhat flustered.  But we chatted and we played well, so all was well.  He also played a few tunes after our break.  Sadly, no pic, but this was a lesson in commitment and extravagant high playing.  So, what a blast after my relatively safe, but if pretty effective, arpeggiated chords and scalar solos.  He mentioned this as classical chops.  Yeah, maybe, not sure.  I am informed by my recent classical playing.  I certainly read better, if not the more syncopated stuff which is not a thing for the classics.  But I do enjoy finding cycles of fifths and diminisheds and chromaticism in "fine" music, even in Beethoven, often enough.  So it's all a thing of pleasure.  Certainly this gig was.  Thanks for the visit, Anthony.

Tilt Trio played Molly.  Tilt are James Woodman (piano), Eric Pozza (bass) and Dave McDade (drums) and Anthony Irvine (bass) sat in for a few tunes.

Right numbers

At our Molly gig, Mark was talking of doing just the right frequency of gigs.  He was playing 6pw, 7pw was pushing it, but he's a pro so this is his job.  I'm no pro and that would be a stretch.  But just back from Antarctica, a week now, and it's been musically busy.  Four gigs in one week.  First up was Molly and that's already written up on CJ.  Then a DJ gig for a disabled home Christmas party for a friend.  How much fun was that?  No stress, relaxing and listening to some fave music.  And people are paid for this?  The task of a muso is much more demanding, not least the years of practice.  Perhaps also more satisfying; certainly more inventive.  The other two gigs were for Red Hill Primary School's end of year get together.  It's a semi-regular gig for us and a great pleasure, especially given my kids' connection with RHPS.  Then a 50th birthday party for a lively woman and friends and family at a local winery.  It's been a busy week just off the ships but all gigs were a real pleasure and featured some hot playing.  Now for a quieter Christmas.

Tilt-ish

Tilt was booked but could only provide one member for this Molly gig, so it was Eric with Ross Buchanan and Mark Levers.  I'd played with both before on different gigs and they are immensely practiced around town, so other than getting a list of tunes and perhaps some approaches (eg, Giant steps as a bossa) this was no big deal.  It was fun though.  These are standards so I'd played most before and if you can do a latin and a walk and you confirm the key you should be right (I was caught out once on the key this night but only for a few bars).  And do your chare of solos.  In the end, all was well this night.  Pretty loud, outgoing, energetic, responsive to suggestions from Ross, tight and playful.  Ross decided to use his e-piano rather than the house grand, for tuning and projection and varied sounds.  I enjoyed the Rhodes and the rest and was somewhat surprised by an organ for one blues.  Nice.  And I enjoyed occasional stops to listen to a drum solo.  Also picking up a few riffs from ear.  Along with the relatively lively audience, this was fun.  Two long sets (2 x 90 mins; 90 mins is what I think of as a rock gig), a decent break, a few pics and a video and a chat with some heavy metallists, no less, and this was a fun night.  Thanks to Ross and Mark; much enjoyed.

Tilt appeared at Molly, this night comprising Eric Pozza (bass) with Ross Buchanan (keys, birthday) and Mark Levers (drums).