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.

CHICO FREEMAN QUARTET: NOT TO BE MISSED

by Eric Myers

Sydney Shout, March 20, 1980

The concert given recently by the Chico Freeman Quartet at Jenny's was more than just a presentation of American jazz. It reinforced the wider verity that black culture has been wealthy in terms of spirit and musical feelings. White musicians may utilise the forms of black music, but I do not see how they can ever genuinely reflect the black experience which is endemic to jazz…

CHARLIE BYRD: SWING IN SPANISH

Interview by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, March 20, 1980

Charlie Byrd, 54, is credited with two great achievements in jazz. He has shown consistently that the Spanish guitar can play swinging jazz; and, with Stan Getz, he was responsible for the introduction of the Brazilian bossa nova into jazz. Originally an orthodox pick-technique guitarist, Byrd began dabbling with the finger-style Spanish guitar in the late 1940s, and became a fulltime student of the instrument in 1950…

BRUCE CALE'S JOURNEYS

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, March 22, 1980

In a lovely cottage at Hampton, NSW, the Australian composer Bruce Cale looks out over the Gangbenang Valley, with the Great Dividing Range in the distance. The Cales have been in this area of the Blue Mountains since 1878, and Bruce's grandmother, Florence Annie Cale, lived in the cottage until she died at the age of 101. Cale has written an orchestral suite dedicated to her memory, entitled A Century Of Steps, as well as compositions called Bindo, and The Upper Run, inspired by the glorious surrounding countryside…