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
AVICENNIA
CARL DEWHURST
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Independent
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, March 15, 2025
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The versatile Sydney guitarist Carl Dewhurst plays with distinction in many contexts, from mainstream through to modern and indeed free jazz. Avicennia is a revelation, affording for me at least a fascinating insight for the first time into the workings of Dewhurst’s fertile musical mind. He is playing here with three equally gifted improvisers: Lisa Parrott, whose cut-through sound on alto saxophone is dripping with New York authority; Cameron Undy, whose electric bass mastery shows his deep knowledge of the great players of this instrument, giving the album much of its innovative character; and the superb drummer Alex Inman Hislop, whose hip drum kit sound and beautiful time-feels underlie the album’s success. Seven Dewhurst compositions are played plus one Charlie Parker tune Ornithology. Four great musicians have come into the studio determined above all to play freely and express themselves in the now. The sound quality of Dewhurst’s guitar is exceptional, and the spontaneity in the music palpable. Avicennia is one of the most satisfying albums I’ve heard for some time.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
TIDES OF TIME
JOSH MEADER TRIO
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Independent
Five stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, March 29, 2025
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Occasionally an album comes along where its brilliance is so astonishing and which takes the music to such a new level, that there’s little choice but to give it five stars. Tides of Time is one. It features Josh Meader (guitar), who has 120,000 followers on social media; Matthew Thomson (piano, keys, synth bass); and Alex Hirlian (drums). Both latter musicians are Australian National Jazz Award winners at Wangaratta, Hirlian in 2018 and Thomson in 2021. Twelve compositions are played here, many of them quite short, credited to all three musicians. To describe the music as jazz/rock fusion is inadequate as Tides of Time is vastly superior to comparable albums I’ve heard. It captures the majesty and melodic sensibility of the genre, but avoids relentlessness through ruminative and expressive sections which are incredibly beautiful. Thomson’s left hand synth bass lines are very hip but, even with his two hands on piano, the momentum in the music never falters. Then, when he returns to bass synth, the warmth in the music is palpably energising.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
WOMEN OF JAZZ ‘25
VARIOUS ARTISTS
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ABC Jazz
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, April 12, 2025
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This impressive album from ABC Jazz has 11 tracks featuring a strong line-up of currently active Australian women jazz musicians. They are all part of the recent flowering of the music in this country. A highlight is the track from Kristin Berardi, singing Jenna Cave’s moving composition Void from the album Grief Hope Love, with a memorable saxophone solo from Loretta Palmeiro. Another is Ingrid James singing beautifully the Fred Hersch composition Stars. These lovely vocals from two of Australia’s finest female vocalists on their own render this album successful. I’m impelled also to single out Freyja Garbett, whose two piano solos give the album distinction: a convincing interpretation of Charlie Parker’s Billie’s Bounce; and an impressionistic reading of her ballad Blissing Parts I & II. In a Lucy Clifford composition, Sundaze Pt II, Garbett plays perhaps the most brilliant piano solo on the album. Where has this extraordinary musician been hiding in recent times? Look out for other big names featured here: Sophie Min, Hannah James, Kyrie Anderson and the aforementioned Lucy Clifford.
Eric Myers