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.
Chuck Mangione
CHUCK MANGIONE: MONEY ISN'T EVERYTHING
by Eric Myers
Sydney Morning Herald, January 29, 1981
As one of the most successful jazz musicians, commercially, in the United States, the flugelhorn player Chuck Mangione, 40, need never work again. In a heady period during 1978-79, he accumulated an illustrious collection of Grammys, gold and platinum records, and awards which included Jazz Artist of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, Top Fusion Artist, Top Producer, Top Instrumentalist, International Jazz Award winner and Outstanding Jazz Artist. Yet Mangione largely discounts this kind of acclaim and success...
Lew Tabackin
TOSHIKO AKIYOSHI & EBERHARD WEBER: BRILLIANT PLAYING SPOILT BY VOLUME
by Eric Myers
Sydney Morning Herald, January 30, 1981
Had it not been for sound technicians with seemingly wooden ears, last night's performances at the Sydney International Music Festival might have amounted to the best evening of sustained, brilliant jazz Sydney has seen for some years. Instead, the audience's senses, at least in the first half, were assaulted with the kind of deafening sound one might experience at a rock concert. It seemed entirely appropriate that the overloaded sound system should fail entirely during the set of Eberhard Weber's group Colours...
Kerrie Biddell
THE JAZZ SINGERS AT THE OPERA HOUSE
by Eric Myers
Encore Magazine, February, 1981
As far as I can remember, this concert, which took place on January 2nd at the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, was the first in which Australian jazz singers, unsupported by overseas attractions, have been presented in Sydney’s most prestigious concert venue, at least in recent years. It was therefore with some trepidation that we ventured to what has been described as the Bennelong Point RSL to see Wayne Harris, Kerrie Biddell & Compared To What, and the Johnny Nicol Quintet - on that night, apparently, representing Australian jazz singers…