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 text of articles published in the newspaper up to Myers’s resignation in 1982. Photographs which may or may not have appeared in the newspaper have been added. From 1983 Myers was The Australian’s jazz critic until his resignation in 1987. His reviews for that newspaper also appear in this folder. Articles which appeared in other publications are also included, if they serve to document the performances of Australian jazz musicians. Headings which appeared in the newspapers were always written by sub-editors. The most excruciating of them have been modified, but mostly they are reproduced as they appeared in newspapers. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews or articles in this folder.

MARK ISAACS: CREATIVE FLEXIBILITY ON KEYS

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, April 26, 1980

Before I heard this performance, I believed that Roger Frampton was the only Australian jazz pianist able to combine virtuosic command of the keyboard with a serious desire to perform free music as a soloist. Mark Isaacs, a young jazz pianist who is known for his work with the singer Kerrie Biddell, and has studied in the United States, is undoubtedly in the same class. In a relatively brief performance of improvised music at Sydney University on Wednesday, Isaacs ranged over a number of moods and styles which, naturally, are difficult to categorise in words...

GALAPAGOS DUCK: TALENT TO BURN

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, April 29, 1980

As one of the most popular jazz combos in the country, Galapagos Duck attracts a considerable amount of cynicism from those who believe that commercial success is a betrayal of jazz. Yet "the Duck," as it is now affectionately known, consisting of Tom Hare (alto and tenor saxophones, flute, trumpet, percussion, drums), Greg Foster (trombone, harmonica), Col Nolan (piano, keyboard bass), Chris Qua (bass, flugelhorn) and Len Barnard (drums, washboard) has an extraordinary amount of talent to burn…

HARRY RIVERS: THE BASEMENT FILLS EARLY HOURS GAP

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, May 1, 1980

For some time, Sydney has lacked a good after-hours jazz room, and The Basement now fills this void three nights a week with a new band, Harry Rivers and Co. This group consists of the leader on drums and vocals, John Conley (guitar), Ray Alldridge (piano) and Roger Fairbrother (electric bass). The singer Harry Rivers has the kind of voice which is ideally suited to a late-night jazz club. His style is no better exemplified than in the superb Michael Franks compositions which are part of his repertoire…