Mike Nock Trio @ The Gods

The Mike Nock Trio appeared at the first of the Gods Jazz sessions at the ANU last night. The Trio is Mike Nock, piano, Brett Hirst, bass, and Toby Hall, drums. They all played excellently, with two highly inventive modern sets.

Mike Nock was his usual creative self, despite playing an electric piano with a key that was sticking. He led two sets of mixed standards and originals. Some were quirky, like his “Summertime … so what”. It started with Miles’ “So What” line, which then got Summertime superimposed over the top. Or the beautiful melody of “You don’t know what love is” as a strangely discordant e-piano sound over a free improvisation by bass-drums. But it wasn’t all like this. His “One for the children” (or similar title) was a simple and beautiful piece with a touching, African history, and his “Blue 4” was a great and complex modern blues piece. His improvising is fluid and inventive, and he introduces dissonance and rhythmic complexity at will – a master at work. As a fellow bassist, I loved Brett Hirst’s bass playing. He had a strong, woody tone which was always clear in both accompaniment and soloing. He was also very melodic, reminding me of Charlie Haden in style. Toby Hall was fluid; moving in and out of the music with constantly varying intensity and rhythm.

Another interesting thing was just how much fun they were obviously having. Mike Nock was constantly looking across with respect to his cohorts. Brett Hirst frequently had a smile on his face, occasionally replacing it with a look of intense concentration. Toby Hall was obviously enjoying himself, and occasionally shared quips with Mike Nock.

The Trio is returning, this time with grand piano, at the Southern Cross Club, 8.30pm Thurs 28 September, 2006, ph 6283 7267. This was an excellent start to the series, and was a masterful display of jazz at an international level.

Sandpit

Sandpit were playing today at Edgar's Inn, for the Sunday afternoon sessions. They are a quartet: sax (soprano & alto), guitar (strat), electric bass, drums. I didn't recognise the faces. They played a 70s style jazz rock, in the tradition of Herbie Hancock and Bitches Brew Miles. I particularly liked the gentle, relaxed bass with a soft slap and, I think, autowah or some similar pedal. Sadly, my camera died last weekend, so no pics.

A Neck & another @ CSM

Jazz Area Staff Concert - John Mackey, Eric. C Ajaye, Mike Price, Miroslav Bukovsky, Col Hoorweg and Matt Thompson perform standard and contemporary original material. Bandroom, Peter Karmel Building, ANU, 7.30pm Wed 8 Mar 2006, $12/$10/$2 ANU students

Right Brain Series - Chris Abrahams (the Necks) and Simon Phillips play an improvised soundtrack to black and white silent film footage. RR3, CSM, 7pm, Tues 21 Mar 2006, $12/$10/$8 Friends

Jazz at the Gods 2006

Here's the lineup for 2006. Prices are $12/$8, or a season ticket for $45. Light meals available before the show. Eating is 6.30pm for concert at 8pm. For bookings, phone 6248 5538. There's limited seating (80) so make remember to book.

Tues Mar 28 Mike Nock Trio — Mike Nock, electric piano; Brett Hirst, bass; Toby Hall, drums

Tues Apr 4 Julian Banks Trio — Julian Banks, tenor saxophone; Damien Slingsby, electric piano; Sam Young, drums

Tues May 2 Bernie McGann Quartet — Bernie McGann, alto saxophone; Warwick Alder, trumpet; Lloyd Swanton, bass; John Pochée, drums

Tues Jun 6 Valdis Thomann Trio — Valdis Thomann, trombone; Neils Rosendahl, tenor saxophone; Michael Azzopardi, electric piano

Tues Jul 18 Straight Up Trio — Michael Azzopardi, electric piano; Eric Ajaye, bass; Christopher Thwaite, drums

Tues Aug 1 Luke Sweeting Trio — Luke Sweeting, electric piano; Bill Willliams, bass; Ed Rodriguez, drums

Mike Nock @ Gods Cafe

Mike Nock plays Gods Cafe at ANU on Tues 28 Mar, apparently in a trio format. I'm unsure of time and other details. I believe this is the 2006 return of the Gods Cafe Jazz Series, which has been organised for several years by Geoff Page, our well known local poet and jazz lover. I've got more info coming, so return here for more datails. Geoff Page's website has a link to last year's Gods Jazz series (as I write this, it's showing last year's program).

http://www.geoffpage.info/

Wayne Kelly Trio

Probably my favourite trio around town - partly due to the playing, partly due to the style. WKT are Wayne Kelly (piano), Ben O'Loghlin (bass) and Mark Sutton (drums). WKT is playing 3-5pm alternate Sundays, at Edgar's Inn in the Ainslie Shops. Today they played some originals, but mostly standards. All in a modern interpretation, with excellent inventiveness and close interaction. Mark is master of the brushes. Wayne is endlessly inventive, and often joking on the keys. Ben is with them all the way, and taking lots of solos in this environment. An education in laid-back intensity. Catch this band!

Overhead Project

OP were playing at Hippos' last week. OP are currently Michael Coggins on guitar, Ben Braithwaite on drums, Munro Melano on keyboards, and bass (I didn't recognise the bass player, my apologies). Plenty of original tunes, in a modern, relaxed, and I thought TV-like vein. There should be some money for this in the studios. Solid bass lines, with inventive solos. Plenty of Rhodes sounds, and a very funky Hammond at one stage. I forgot the camera so no pics.

Edgar's Inn, Ainslie

Here's a new venue for CJ. Edgar's Inn is located in the Ainslie Shops. Jazz 3-5pm, every Sunday afternoon. Today (and alternate Sundays) is Wayne Kelly's Trio. I don't know who plays the alternate week. Also "funk/jazz" on Tuesday nights. Very pleasant sitting with a beer on a warm afternoon, and the jazz was excellent.

Rosendahl's Pardi with strings

Nils Rosendahl has just gone OS to Asia and a scholarship to study in the UK. He's a great loss to Canberra. Niels was a star student of saxes. Here's a pic of Rosendahl's Pardi with Strings from Moruya 2005. Niels Rosendahl, saxes; Anna Thompson, violin; Michael Azzopardi, piano; Ben Rogers, bass; Ben Braithwaite, drums. A worthy final concert for Sat night: lively and well played. I remember especially Corea's Spain, and Rosendahl's post-bop Penguins. Nice one, Niels.

catholics @ hippos 12 Feb 2006

It's not strictly Canberra Jazz, but it happened here. The catholics came to Canberra to perform for the Multicultural Festival, and also for a more intimate performance at Hippos.

I had seen them years ago, mid-90s or thereabouts. At one stage during the night, Lloyd Swanton said they’d been together for 14 years, so they were already well established. They all have other projects. They have just recorded their 5th CD (or 4th and a compilation?). Some players were still there from the concerts I saw 10 years ago – Lloyd Swanton (bass), Sandy Evans (tenor & soprano sax), James Greening (trombone, and a very little trumpet) and Fabian Hevia (percussion). The guitar, drums and slide players are changed.

I was most blown out by James Greening. Stunning, clear, articulated trombone solos – it’s rare that you hear postbop-style lines like this on a trom. And Sandy Evans was superb. She’s little, and the tenor practically reaches her knees, but her lines are big and complex. Plenty of lyrical playing, but with detours into sheets of notes at varying levels of dissonance. And together, Sandy and James create these hauntingly beautiful and precise harmonies which define several of their tunes.

The rhythms were fairly standard: reliable latin throughout by Hamish Stuart on drums and Lloyd Swanton. I hadn’t taken note, but my drummer friend observed there wasn’t a swing throughout the night. Jonathan Pease on guitar was lyrical (at times, with a bell-like strat tone to die for) as was the Bruce Reid on slide guitar. I’m not up on these instruments, but I think they were a lap steel and a resonator of some kind. Nice solos too on bass, and a lovely one by Fabian Hevia on percussion early in the night. (How can you not love the dissection of rhythm that is a percussion solo?)

The whole was put through a JBL rig with sub-bins and mid/high boxes. Rare for a jazz-related gig, but more balanced, compressed and powerful. I enjoyed it, but I did hear negative comments about it being overpowering. It was not rock-loud, but still pretty solid.

The overall effect was rich and accurate, with stunning competence in solos, and beautiful, lyrical melodies against the rhythmic complexity that you can only get with a large rhythm section.

The catholics are: Lloyd Swanton (bass), Sandy Evans (saxes), James Greening (trombone), Jonathan Pease (guitar), Bruce Reid (lap steel guitar, dobro), Hamish Stuart (drums), Fabian Hevia (percussion).

They are running an email list if you wish to find out more, but I coudn't find a URL. Good luck.

A great pic, but not the current catholics line-up

The local Trad jazz people

Here's a glance into our history. The Canberra Jazz Club represents the trad end of the jazz spectrum. They get together at regular performances of the Black Mountain Jazz Band at the Dickson Tradies, and meet with other trad jazz clubs around NSW. See their website.

http://www.actco.org.au/canberrajazzclub/

Music under the Elm @ Lanyon

Jazz is returning to Lanyon Homestead for a summer season: Friday evenings, 3 Feb - 10 Mar, 5.30-8.30pm. Gold coin donation. The series features several bands out of the CSM, starting on 3 Feb with Eric Ajaye's excellent trio called Straight Up! See my review of an earlier concert at Lanyon below.

Friday 3 February STRAIGHT UP! Eric Ajaye, lecturer in Jazz Studies at the Canberra School of Music, joins with drummer Chris Thwaites and pianist Michael Azzopardi to play modern jazz originals.

Friday 10 February 5.30pm-8.30pm FIRE ON THE HILL. Jazz guitarist Lachlan Coventry, joins with bass, drums and slide to play his original material.

Friday 17 February, 5.30pm-8.30pm MALONE. Singer/songwriter Gareth Malone plays original soul, R & B and contemporary jazz material with Charlie Meadows and Nick Hoorweg.

Friday 24 February, 5.30pm-8.30pm SWING GUITAR. Three prominent guitarists and double bass players come together to perform the swinging Gypsy Jazz of Django Reinhardt and the ‘The Quintet du Hot Club de France’.

http://www.museumsandgalleries.act.gov.au/lanyon/index.asp

Trinity Jazz

Trinity Jazz
Originally uploaded by petelawley.

Thanks to Pete Lawley for this pic from the Trinity Bar Tuesday evening sessions. Found on Flickr.

Zip

I must put in a rave about the band, Zip. Zip are Linda Tinney (piano/vocals), Graeme Tinney (bass), and Amanda Waite (drums). They all have backgrounds at the School of Music. They play a careful, considered, soulful, gospel influenced, R&B repertoire. And they do it with love and precision. Great music. Here's a pic from a performance at Red Gecko on Sunday afternoon. Recommended. Sadly, I hear we are about to lose them from the Canberra music scene.

Jazz in Hanoi & Hong Kong

This is not strictly Canberra Jazz, but I have a few (poor) pics, so I’ll include them here. I visited Vietnam and Hong Kong for a short trip last year (Sept-Oct 2005). There’s a lot of interest amongst Australian jazz musicians about performing in Asia, and I’ve heard about several Australians travelling there to perform, or who are based there. I saw a wonderful concert a few years ago with Blaine Whittaker. He’s a supremely competent Australian alto bop player who, at least at the time, was resident in HK. He came over with the HK-based, US-originated, pianist Allen Youngblood and performed a little big-band set with the cream of Sydney players (Dale Barlow et al) for SIMA at the Side-On Cafe.

On my trip, I got to visit 2 jazz clubs. The first was [Quyen Van] Minh’s Jazz Bar, centrally located in Can Luong van Can in Hanoi (see “Jazz Club” on this map). Apparently, Minh is a sax player and teacher in Hanoi. I didn’t even know who I was seeing that night, but I presume Minh was the tenor player and leader. He was accompanied by electric bass, electric piano, sometimes trumpet or alto, and several drummers, who once changed over while performing one tune. The music was mainstream and standards. The playing was competent, entertaining and sometimes frantic, rather than particularly inventive. It’s a big club, with a prominent neon sign out front, so you can’t miss it. Free entry; beer on tap.

The second visit was to Hong Kong’s Fringe Club for jazz. The Fringe Club is interestingly located next to the famous HK Foreign Correspondents Club. It’s an intimate venue. Originally the Richard Malmstein (Swedish bassist; now local) quartet was to play, but RM was not available. He was replaced by a local bassist who is obviously a local hero: Tsang Tak Hong. TTH played fusion on a 5 string (Schecter?) bass. He was a wonderful player, easily of international standard. Strong on setting and maintaining the groove; lots of fast solos flayed across the fingerboard. He didn’t venture from fusion, but he did that fabulously well. The other players were Miles Li (alto sax from US, originally from Korea), Per-Axel Johnson (guitar, friend of Rich Malmstein, and visiting HK) and Robin Harris (Drums, US). P-A J was a much sweeter player, and obviously out of place in this fusion outfit. I spoke to P-A J and, interestingly, at one stage, he volunteered that Australia produces very good jazz players. Australia obvious has a reputation. Cover charge; grog available.

There were other jazz events around HK, but I only got to this one. But in parting, here’s a pic from Tom Lee’s Music Store just off Nathan Street in Kowloon. It’s big store, and relaxed. Lots of basses to pick up and try out, and no-one hanging over your shoulder. They also seem to have plenty of visiting master classes. Nathan East was to give a class just a few days after I left.