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
AÉROGRAMME
JOHN SCURRY’S REVERSE SWING
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Lionsharecords
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, January 11, 2025
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Aerogramme, with 11 leading Melbourne jazz musicians, features a team similar to that which put together the group’s great 2021 album Early Risers, especially trumpeter Eugene Ball, who has again done the horn arrangements for leader/guitarist John Scurry’s 14 splendid compositions. (That’s on the CD version; the bonus download has six additional tracks). Once again the band includes unabashed traditionalists, so much of the music has the flavour of pre-bebop. As before, however, the group also includes modernists such as saxophonist Julien Wilson, drummer Danny Fischer, trombonist James Macaulay and alto saxophonist Stephen Grant – players who can be relied upon to stretch the boundaries of the music towards modern jazz. Previously I described the music on Early Risers, and also on Scurry’s 2018 album Post Matinee, as “Ellingtonian” — a compliment I’ll stick with, as Scurry’s music palpably transcends normal categories. The perceptive journalist Gideon Haigh, who provides the album’s interesting liner notes, says it all: “Aerogramme is what you get when talent blends with experience, seriousness with fun. Out comes the sound of art”.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
WHERE WE ARE NOW
MOSAIC
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Independent
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, January 18, 2025
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Mosaic is a ten-piece ensemble inspired by the late John Pochée’s great band Ten Part Invention (formed in 1986 but still in existence, performing occasionally). The advent of Mosaic, a strong band full of expressive musicians, is a significant event in Australian jazz. Its members met over several years as students in jazz studies at the Sydney Conservatorium: Braden Clarke & Sarah Morrison (trumpet & flugelhorn); Chiara Minotto, Lachie Eggert, Leo Marland & Aidan Wong (saxophones, clarinet, flute); Lee Orszaczky (trombone & bass trombone), Ravi Trachtenberg-Ray (piano), James Watt (upright and electric basses), Matt Simmonds (drums). Mosaic is dedicated to original music, specifically written by band members under 25; it amply celebrates the swing-feel, while otherwise utilising a variety of innovative time-feels; its writers take full advantage of the instrumental colours afforded by ten musicians, many of them doublers; and it shows a keen awareness of the avant-garde. I predict a very strong future for Mosaic. It has completely transcended the “student band” ethos, and sounds like a mature, fully professional jazz orchestra.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
GRIEF HOPE LOVE
JENNA CAVE SEXTET
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ABC Jazz
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, January 25, 2025
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This is a unique and highly moving album, from a stellar sextet directed by Sydney composer Jenna Cave. The subject-matter derives from Cave’s marriage breaking down and her husband taking his own life in April 2022, leaving her alone with her four-year-old daughter Chloe. One of the ways in which Cave dealt with her grief and trauma, on a journey of healing and rebuilding her life, was to write six songs which comprehensively document her sad experience. These perceptive compositions are sung superbly here by the great Australian singer Kristin Berardi. Yutaro Okuda (guitar), Tom Avgenicos (trumpet/flugelhorn) and Loretta Palmeiro (saxophones, clarinet) provide thoughtful improvisations either in the body of the songs, or as stand-alone solos. They are atop a faultless rhythm section in Hannah James (double bass) and Chloe Kim (drums). Two short improvisations from the musicians provide contrast. This is a very gentle album, requiring a close reading of the lyrics, which helpfully are available on Bandcamp. Those lyrics should assist listeners to appreciate this inspiring music which I feel touches the heart.
Eric Myers