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.
Dewey Redman
SIMA & THE VISIT OF DEWEY REDMAN IN 1986
by Eric Myers
The Australian, January 8, 1986
“The political economy of jazz in Sydney equates artistic standards and originality with the ability to keep a drinking crowd happy, or a wealthy audience entertained”. With these words, the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) began its provocative manifesto, published during the 1985 Festival of Sydney. It raised a few eyebrows in the jazz world. Here was a new concert entrepreneur audacious enough to distinguish between contemporary, creative or innovative jazz on the one hand and, on the other, the commercial, mainstream jazz being played in most city venues. Because most jazz musicians were required to play what was essentially background music for winers and diners, SIMA argued, most employment went to safe, inoffensive and unimaginative jazz musicians…
John Pochée, Dewey Redman, Geoff Kluke, Bernie McGann
DEWEY REDMAN & BERNIE McGANN: AN INSPIRED DIALOGUE
by Eric Myers
The Australian, January 10, 1986
With the opening concert in their Festival of Sydney series, the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA) certainly fulfilled its promise to present the sort of music which one rarely hears in the city's jazz venues. The idea of importing the American saxophonist Dewey Redman to perform with the Bernie McGann Trio now appears to have been an inspired one…
Ronnie Scott
RONNIE SCOTT CONSOLIDATES STANDARDS WITH VIGOUR
by Eric Myers
The Australian, January 16, 1986
Last week, the American Dewey Redman; this week, the UK’s Ronnie Scott. It has been a stimulating period in Sydney recently for fans of the tenor saxophone. There have been, however, significant differences between the two visitors, although both have been very impressive in their own ways….