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.
Dale Barlow Quartet, L-R, Paul Grabowsky, Lloyd Swanton, Dale Barlow, Tony Buck
GLOWING TALENT IN DALE BARLOW QUARTET
by Eric Myers
The Australian, August 4, 1986
This performance included the outstanding Melbourne pianist Paul Grabowsky. Since he has not performed before with a leading jazz group in Sydney, as far as I’m aware, it can be regarded as an important debut. Grabowsky came to Sydney with a formidable advance reputation, but those who have praised him highly have not in my view overstated the case. From the brief evidence of this performance, he is arguably the most talented modern jazz pianist to emerge in Australia over recent years…
Ricky May
RICKY MAY: A MAGICAL MIXTURE
by Eric Myers
The Australian, November 7, 1986
Ricky May's recent success in the musical Guys and Dolls may have launched him in the theatre, giving him a wider following, but his unique prowess as a cabaret entertainer has been well-known to insiders for over 20 years. His opening performance at the Don Burrows Supper Club was vintage Ricky May - as always, a mixture of inspired chaos and great music…
Peter Dasent
THE UMBRELLAS & THE SSQ: A BOLD AND INNOVATIVE VENTURE
by Eric Myers
The Australian, November 14, 1986
This presentation of the music of Debussy and Bartok, followed by the contemporary works of the composer Peter Dasent, was a bold and innovative venture which deserved a much better result. The Sydney String Quartet (SSQ) - Harry Curby and Vojta Hlinka (violins), Alex Todicescu (viola) and George Pederson (cello) — opened with Debussy's String Quartet in G minor and Bartok's String Quartet No 3. These works were a splendid curtain-raiser for the music of The Umbrellas, and the SSQ did its job well, establishing a charged atmosphere, characterised by purity of sound. It was this atmosphere that The Umbrellas then had to inhabit, and an excellent opportunity was provided for the septet to deliver a coup de grace…