Eric Myers Jazz

ERIC MYERS REVIEWS 1980-87

Eric Myers was the Sydney Morning Herald’s inaugural jazz critic, his first review appearing on February 2, 1980. This folder contains reviews and articles written by Myers up to his resignation in 1982. Text published in the newspaper is reproduced here, with the addition of photographs which may or may not have appeared in the newspaper. In 1983 Myers moved to The Australian, where he was that paper’s jazz critic, until he resigned towards the end of 1987.  His reviews for that newspaper appear also in this folder. Articles which appeared in other publications are included here, if they serve to document the performances of Australian jazz musicians. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews or articles in this folder.

FESTIVAL OF SYDNEY DROPS JAZZ CONTENT

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, September 4, 1981

Many Sydney jazz buffs will be hopping mad about the decision taken by the Sydney Committee to drop the official jazz component from the 1982 Festival of Sydney. This development raises a depressing spectre. Sydney is now the leading jazz centre in Australia, with vibrant activity in all the idioms which make up the jazz spectrum. Yet the Festival of Sydney, intended to reflect the performing arts in Australia's largest city, at present has no plans to present jazz concerts in a theatre venue next January…

IS BERNIE McGANN A NEGLECTED GENIUS?

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, September 14, 1981

The American Art Pepper, who has just completed a tour of Australia, is widely regarded as the greatest alto saxophonist in jazz. With his playing still clearly in mind, it is salutary now to listen carefully to the leading Australian altoist Bernie McGann, who is doing a season at The Basement. For years McGann has been a neglected figure who, until recently, made his living as a postman in the Sydney suburb of Bundeena. He performed rarely but was regarded by jazz buffs as a great original stylist who shunned commercial values and strove for pure expression…

STEWART SPEER: A DRUMMER WHO WON’T LET THE ODDS BEAT HIM

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, September 15, 1981

This week the legendary 53-year-old drummer Stewart Speer embarks on a 10-week tour of Australia with Max Merritt, the former Australian rock star now based in England. This period of employment breaks a long drought for an important figure in Australian jazz history. Apart front a similar tour with Merritt last year, Speer has worked only occasionally since returning two years ago from England, where he spent most of the 1970s. “I would like to be playing more, but I’m not sure about how to go about it,” said Speer recently…