CD REVIEW 4 stars ON July 12 last year three patrons left Bennetts Lane jazz club in Melbourne grumbling that they “didn’t pay to hear three drunk blokes wearing flannel … miss every third note”. Yet that night these blokes, none of whom had touched a drop, began recording a live album that dips its lid to Monk, Parker, Ellington, Jelly Roll Morton and Ornette … Continue reading SHREVEPORT STOMP — BROWNE, HANNAFORD, ANNING
CD REVIEW 4 stars FOLLOWING his exquisite trio album Meadowlands, Howard joins Belgian bassist Bruneel in duets and solos developed during a Nordic road trip. It’s an ideal pairing. Bruneel’s warmth and muscularity, so deeply satisfying in his solos Settlers and Ay Yildis, is an ideal counterpoint to Howard’s pure, cool and often pensive approach. Bruneel also seems to draw out brooding power and momentum … Continue reading OPEN ROAD — LUKE HOWARD, JANOS BRUNEEL
CD REVIEW (To hear the band live see gig details below) 3 stars GUITARIST Julian Curwin borrows six members of The Tango Saloon to float liltingly aloft on this whimsical flight through tango, gypsy swing and spaghetti western to klezmer, helped by Eddie Bronson on clarinets. In 13 Curwin originals the mood is light and airy, yet varied. Sam Golding adds melodrama on tuba and … Continue reading THE MANGO BALLOON VOL. I — JULIAN CURWIN
