JAZZ ALBUM REVIEWS IN THE AUSTRALIAN
In September, 2017 Eric Myers commenced reviewing jazz albums in the Review supplement of The Weekend Australian. All reviews in this folder are written by Myers.
JAZZ
THE JOURNEYMAN SUITE
AR BIG BAND & STRING QUARTET
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ABC Jazz
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, October 26, 2024
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Sydney-based composer and arranger Andrew Robertson has here produced a highly innovative work of 51 minutes for 20 musicians: a 16-piece jazz big band with four each in the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm sections, plus a string quartet. In a thumbnail review we can’t list all 24 musicians. Two things make this album unusually distinctive: first, the tight writing whereby Robertson adroitly converts the band into a compact expression of his particular musical vision; and second, using the standard string quartet (two violins, viola & cello) in such a way that its playing exists seamlessly as part of the band, and never sounds intrusive. The Journeyman Suite is the AR Big Band’s debut album, inspired by Robertson’s own journey as a working musician, from youthful beginnings, to acceptance in the music community, and to a position of leadership while always remaining in the background behind the ticket-selling artist out the front. There are some lovely improvisations here, but I was mostly fascinated by the brilliantly written figures played underneath those solos. Those figures are indeed something to behold.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
SEARCH FOR PEACE
INGRID JAMES
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ABC Jazz
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, November 9, 2024
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One can luxuriate in this album, featuring the beautiful sound quality in Ingrid James’s unique voice. Eleven carefully chosen compositions are presented, including her original The Immigrant, relating the story of her mother’s departure from Lapland, Finland, and migrating to Australia. The other 10, by a collection of stellar composers, have thoughtful, mature lyrics which are highly moving. She is backed by two excellent Australians in Samuel Vincent (acoustic bass) and Lachlan Hawkins (drums), plus the UK’s Pete Churchill, who’s done the arrangements, and provides crisp, understated piano solos. James’s unhurried articulation of the lyrics throughout is distinctive, rendering them splendidly meaningful. Standards such as You Must Believe in Spring and Alone Together are not known as easy to sing, but in the hands of this great singer they are well consummated. Also from time to time James provides judicious examples of wordless vocals, nailing with ease what is arguably the most difficult task in jazz singing. This is an album of which Brisbane singer Ingrid James can be justly proud.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
IN MOTION
CHRIS FOSTER TRIO
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Independent
Four stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, November 16, 2024
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In Motion has three excellent, well-educated Perth musicians in a convincing, even scintillating, exploration of the jazz/rock genre. Chris Foster (piano), Nick Abbey (bass) and Daniel Susnjar (drums) completely understand the rhythmic possibilities here and often capture the majesty inherent in the genre. Foster’s seven original compositions are interesting, well-written and sensitively treated; moreover the vinyl version filled my apartment with glorious sound. Having said that, what may limit the album’s appeal is its sound balance. Abbey’s bass playing, which is admittedly very impressive, is for my taste too loud throughout, which is an irritant. It’s as if whoever mixed the album has never heard Stanley Clarke with Chick Corea’s Return To Forever, nor Miroslav Vitous with Weather Report. Listeners who like various forms of rock music might warm to this bullish bass sound, and Foster’s own improvisations – beautiful, concise and technically proficient – can mercifully be clearly heard. But on this sort of album I believe many jazz enthusiasts would prefer a more hip double bass sound.
Eric Myers