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
SONDOR
DAVID DOWER TRIO
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Independent
Four stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, April 26, 2025
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This is the fourth release from the David Dower Trio and is the outgrowth of pianist Dower’s admitted obsession with Bulgaria, the Balkan country bordered by Romania and Serbia. It was recorded in the capital city Sofia following the trio’s fifth tour of the country, and features unique Bulgarian musical influences: dense vocal harmonies, lilting dance rhythms and local instrumentation. The repertoire consists of five compositions by Dower, plus a somewhat tongue-in-cheek version of the US synth-rock song We Built This City. Other than Dower, the trio includes Kim May (electric bass) and Matt Fisher (drums). The Britain-based Australian guitarist Elliot Frost also deserves commendation, as his beautiful improvisations give the album real distinction. Otherwise, there is an army of Bulgarian musicians in the studio, too numerous to list their names individually: a kaval player, three folklore singers, a lead vocalist, a percussionist, and a brass instrumentalist. Accordingly the album has a full, exceedingly lush sound, atop a seriously competent fusion rhythm section, which certainly captures the majesty inherent in this genre.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
LEAPS OF FAITH
RICHARD MAEGRAITH BAND
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ABC Jazz
Four stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, May 3, 2025
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Australian tenor saxophonist Richard Maegraith, now living and working in Berlin, leads here an impressive quintet. At the Sydney Conservatorium in the 1990s Maegraith explored the music of US cool school saxophonist Warne Marsh for his Masters thesis A Study of Tension and Release. Leaps of Faith is the outcome of Maegraith’s desire to emulate the purity and rhythmic subtlety of Marsh’s legendary melodic lines. There’s much on this album to interest current listeners. The pianist Henri Peipman, hitherto unknown to me, grew up in Sydney with his Estonian parents, and was a contemporary of Maegraith’s at the Conservatorium. His pianism adds real distinction to this album as does the ethereal sound of Daryl Pratt’s vibraphone. Noteworthy is the outstanding playing of two then developing youngsters Mark Lau (bass) and David Goodman (drums). This album was recorded long ago in 2000 by the ABC for Jim McLeod’s Jazztrack, and congratulations to ABC Jazz for unearthing it. To my ears it does not sound dated and is completely worthy of current release.
Eric Myers
JAZZ
THE EXHIBITS
THE EXHIBITS
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Independent
Four-and-a-half stars
Published in the Weekend Australian, May 10, 2025
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For a musician widely considered Australia’s greatest jazz guitarist James Muller’s recording output over the years has been slim. His last outing under his own leadership was seven years ago in May, 2018, with his album Live at Wizard Tone. Meanwhile, he has been featured as a sideman on several albums under other leaders. The Exhibits is therefore a welcome venture, which confirms that Muller’s powers are as impressive as ever. If anything, his playing in 2025 reveals the high degree of maturity now in his playing. He is fortunate to have discovered in Adelaide the superb bassist Lyndon Gray whose five extremely interesting compositions sustain the album, and whose brilliant improvisations give the album real distinction. The other three compositions are written by Muller, and are just as interesting. The quartet also includes Tom Noonan (alto saxophone) and Josh Baldwin (drums) both excellent players doing everything right behind the virtuosos Muller and Gray. Such a fine album suggests that this outstanding quartet is now carrying the flag for jazz in Adelaide.
Eric Myers