BELL JAZZ LECTURES

The  Doubly Gifted  Committee and  Waverley  Library named  this lecture series  on jazz the Bell Jazz Lectures, in  honour of Graeme Bell's outstanding contribution to jazz in  Australia and abroad  over  the previous 50 years.   He was an outstanding pianist, excellent band  leader, and composer of note, who died on June 13, 2012. Graeme was also  a talented artist who  exhibited in the Doubly Gifted exhibitions of visual art works by jazz musicians, as well as contributing to other  exhibitions. The series began in 1993 and concluded in 2014. Read these lectures also at www.waverley.nsw.gov.au/services/library/reference_library/doubly_gifted_annual_bell_jazz_lectures

THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BE

by John Pochée

Sixteenth annual Bell Jazz Lecture delivered September 13, 2008 at Waverley Library

Well, things ain't what they used to be and they never will be again. In fact, personally, I think we have seen the best of it all. I don't have any great axe to grind about the changes that have occurred in music since I began playing, exactly 52 years ago, except the fact that all the venues have disappeared and gambling has replaced entertainment, but I'll no doubt find a couple of other things to grumble about as I put down this little discourse…

YOU KNOW I DON'T LISTEN TO THE WORDS

by Jeannie Lewis

Seventeenth annual Bell Jazz Lecture delivered September 19, 2009 at Waverley Library

After almost a year away in Latin America, I'd been back last year for two weeks staying at a friend's place when I replied to a message from Kate Dunbar. She'd tracked me down to invite me to give this lecture. "Me? Why Kate? It's an honour but I'm a little dislocated body and soul - even more than usual and anyway I'm not really a jazz singer." As I’m sure some of you thought today. Why her?

THE MYTHS OF JAZZ

by James Valentine

Eighteenth Annual Bell Jazz Lecture delivered September 18, 2010 at Waverley Library

I was sitting in my car listening to Eastside Radio. Track is already playing. I start playing Leonard Feather's Blindfold Test.  In my mind, Leonard and I are sharing a cognac in his Manhattan apartment while he plays interesting rarities and live tracks and I have to guess them. Afterwards we'll go down to the Five Spot to hear Monk and Coltrane. Fantasy done I become intrigued with the track…