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 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.

MAL WALDRON: A JAZZ PERFORMANCE SOMEWHAT DEVOID OF MERIT

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, October 15, 1981

The African American pianist Mal Waldron, 55, who gave the first of his four performances in Sydney on Monday night, has had a distinguished career in jazz. He is probably best known for his work with jazz greats Billie Holiday, Charles Mingus and Eric Dolphy. He is also noted for his willingness over the years to continually broaden his horizons and stay abreast of the evolution of jazz. The decision, however, to team him up with Gary Costello (bass) and Allan Browne (drums) — members of the Melbourne quartet, Onaje, which was the support band —was an unfortunate one…

JANOS GONDA: JAZZ BOOMS IN HUNGARY

by Eric Myers

Sydney Morning Herald, October 26, 1981

In Sydney last week, Janos Gonda bought Mike William's new book The Australian Jazz Explosion, and was quick to point out that Australia was not the only country experiencing such an "explosion." In Australia for a short visit, Gonda — Hungary's equivalent to the NSW Conservatorium of Music's Don Burrows — is head of the jazz department at the Bela Bartok Conservatory in Budapest. He is also vice-president of the International Jazz Federation, and a brilliant jazz pianist who has made many recordings and performed widely in Europe…

THE NATIONAL JAZZ CONFERENCE

by Eric Myers

JAMM magazine, November, 1981

At the first National Jazz Conference held at the jazz club The Cellar in Brisbane on Sunday, some 20 speakers agreed that Australian jazz, if it was to flourish, must "get its act together". Exactly how this might occur in practice was not clear. But some 60 delegates - including jazz musicians, writers, authorities, teachers, promoters and publishers - felt generally that the time was ripe for the disparate elements of the jazz world to form a national body and speak with a united voice…