TAKE YOUR PICK: BACK FROM BERLIN OR NYC

GIG PREVIEWS: Sunday, September 2, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Melbourne

The phrase an embarrassment of riches comes to mind, though I daresay Bennetts Lane is not the tiniest bit bashful about its double bill on the evening of Father’s Day this year. In one room is a father and daughter breaking the champers (sorry, sparkling wine) bottle over their new album, while in the other room the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative presents German drummer/composer Jochen Rueckert, on tour from New York with bassist Des White and expatriate Australian saxophonist Jacam Manricks.

It’s a case of choose one room and stick with it, or sample a little of both.

CD launch: Andy Sugg Group — The Berlin Session 8pm $15/$12

Andy Sugg and daughter Kate Kelsey-Sugg

It’s billed as a first to have a father and daughter launch a contemporary jazz record on Father’s Day. That may well be true, but it’s the music that counts and this album was recorded early in 2011 at Freeborn Sound Studio in Berlin, which saxophonist Andy describes as “an incredible place” with a culture so vibrant “you can breathe it on the street”.

Andy was reunited with German drummer Jan Leipnitz, with whom he had previously worked with in Sydney, for this album, which also features Sean Pentland on bass and Andy’s daughter, Kate Kelsey-Sugg on piano.

For the Melbourne launch, Andy and Kate will be joined by Aaron McCoullough on drums, Pat Farrell on bass and Kumar Shone on guitar.

The Berlin Session was mixed in Berlin by Phil Freeborn and mastered at the ABC studios in Melbourne by Mal Stanley.

Publicity material for the album describes it as exploring “a more acoustic avant garde setting”.

“While firmly grounded in its stylistic time and place, this is music that has left home. It is music in the moment, played by highly articulate musicians with something to say both as soloists and as members of a collective.”

Andy Sugg has played with David Liebman, Paul Grabowsky, Julien Wilson, Stephen Magnusson, Jamie Oehlers and the late Gary Costello. For his PhD Andy studied the music of John Coltrane.

Kate’s Kelsey-Sugg’s accomplishments include winning the VCA Marion Isobel Piano Scholarship (2010), the Gold Prize at the Rotarua New Zealand Stage Band Music Tour (2004), first place in the 2009 VCA Jazz series competition and second place in 2008. She was 2005 Future Piano Finalist in the James Morrison Scholarship and took first place in the 2010 James Morrison Vocal Scholarship.

She recently returned from studies in New York, where she played at The Living Room.

Jochen Rueckert Trio 8.30pm $18/$12
Jochen Rueckert drums, Des White bass, Jacam Manricks alto saxophone

Jochen Ruerckert at Bennetts Lane recently with Jacam Manricks and Des White

On Tuesday, August 28, Melburnians had a chance to hear expatriate saxophonist Jacam Manricks again, back on an extensive tour of Australia. Manricks has a new album out, entitled Cloud Nine, which features David Weiss on trumpet, Adam Rogers on guitar, Sam Yahel on organ and Matt Wilson on drums. This is a line-up I’d love to see at Wangaratta or the MIJF some time.

The Tuesday gig at Bennetts Lane was also an opportunity to hear German drummer/composer Jochen Rueckert in action on the drum kit, as well as Des White on bass.

For Sunday’s gig, the line-up is the same, but the music will include Ruerckert’s compositions and he will lead the trio.

Here are some notes copied from the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative:

“Jochen Rueckert has built a highly successful [career] in New York since relocating there in 1995 as a 20 year old. He performed in Melbourne previously in 2002 in the trio of pianist Sean Wayland (with bassist Matt Penman), after recording albums.

“Since then his playing and recording with a variety of bands include Kurt Rosenwinkel, Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie, Marc Copland Trio, Nils Wogram Quartet, Mark Turner Band, Chris Cheek, and Sam Yahel, with tours all over North and South America, eastern and western Europe, Asia and Australia.

“Rueckert is also known for his non-jazz work with NYC punk rock band Bonnie Lundy, NYC rock band Seems So Bright and electronic work with Marcus Schmickler, Jochen Bohnes, Hayden Chisholms, The inflictors, Burndt Friedman and Nublu bands, most mentionable Wax Poetic and I Led 3 Lives. He also plays bass in NYC rock band Wworldclass and programs, remixes and produces music for various artist in the electronic music/idm/breakcore sector. His programming alias is Wolff-Parkinson-White.”

ROGER MITCHELL