REVIEW / RAVE Melbourne International Jazz Festival, June 3 to June 12, 2016 One of the most interesting conversations I’ve had during this jazz festival — and I’ve had a few, before and after attending 15 concerts — was about the jazz hero. The person I spoke to was a musician who said he wanted to move away from that approach or model in bands … Continue reading OF JAZZ HEROES AND HIGHLIGHTS
Paul Grabowsky: Shirley Avenue — Grand Organ Commission The picture below shows the wilds of Shirley Avenue, Glen Waverley, the place that inspired Paul Grabowsky’s composition for the Melbourne Town Hall grand organ or, as he put it, “the street where I grew up”. The Google Maps version lacks historic integrity, but I was inspired to place it here by a post on Miriam Zolin’s … Continue reading Melbourne International Jazz Festival — Day 6
Joshua Redman Trio A nasty cold and sore throat had me laid low all day, so I chose to miss the Zac Hurren Trio and arrive at the Melbourne Recital Centre in time for Redman on saxophones, Reuben Rogers on bass and Greg Hutchinson on drums. A number of words come to mind immediately as fitting descriptions for this trio: slick, polished, precise, elegant, athletic, … Continue reading Melbourne International Jazz Festival — Day 5
