SO WHO DID RESCUE MELBOURNE’ S JAZZ?

FOR THE RECORD On April 19 I posted the news that musical entrepreneur and property developer Albert Dadon — who owns Bird’s Basement in Melbourne — had acquired the name and assets of Sydney’s jazz club The Basement and planned to reopen it as soon as possible. This was significant news, especially for Sydney fans of improvised music. That post included material provided in a media release by Dadon, … Continue reading SO WHO DID RESCUE MELBOURNE’ S JAZZ?

OF BIRD’S, BENNETTS AND BEYOND

REFLECTION Ravi Coltrane at Bird’s Basement, Singers Lane, Melbourne on Sunday, March 6, 2016 IT HAS been said often in recent months, but there’s a lot of live music happening in Melbourne, plenty of it being jazz / improvised. That can’t be bad. But as venues proliferate, the challenge remains to really get more Melburnians — and visitors to town — off their couches and out there listening, … Continue reading OF BIRD’S, BENNETTS AND BEYOND

AND THE WINNERS ARE …

AWARDS NIGHT On Thursday next week, May 2, at the Regent Theatre Ballroom, the glitterati of the  national jazz scene will gather for the 2013 Australian Jazz Bell Awards. Sadly, Graeme Bell, MBE, AO, after whom these awards are named, died last year, so it will be the first ceremony without him. One of the most respected Australian jazz musicians, Bell was unable to attend the 2012 awards … Continue reading AND THE WINNERS ARE …