GIG: WPAC Theatre, 5pm, October 30 Jef Neve piano, Ruben Samama acoustic bass, Teun Verbruggen drums and megaphone This was the only set I heard by this trio with Belgians Neve and Verbruggen and Dutchman Samama, who now resides in New York. They played pieces from their new album, Imaginary Road. From the opener, The Space We Need, a level of barely contained energy was … Continue reading WANGARATTA JAZZ 2010 — JEF NEVE TRIO
REVIEW: WANGARATTA JAZZ 2010 ROGER MITCHELL attempts to sum up Australia’s major festival of improvised music in a few words WHEN Mike Nock’s New Quintet opened the 21st annual jazz festival at Wangaratta on Friday, the pianist told the audience, “This is jazz. Things happen.” It was good advice. The festival program had not seemed to promise as much as in recent years. But things … Continue reading THINGS HAPPEN — A FEW WORDS ON WANG
INTERVIEW Drawcard: Kurt Elling KURT Elling is a hard taskmaster — hard on himself and on his audiences. The Grammy award-winning vocalist has made a rigorous study of the great jazz singers and strives for total engagement with music through improvisation and spontaneity. He has mastered scatting, singing and writing vocalese lyrics for jazz standards and current repertoire. He can sing a beautiful ballad and … Continue reading PERFECT PRESENT — KURT ELLING ON BEING IN THE MOMENT
