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.
Oliver Jones
OLIVER JONES: A MAJOR JAZZMAN'S MINOR GIG
by Eric Myers
The Australian, December 13, 1984
The Canadian pianist, Oliver Jones, will probably remember his Australian visit as a minor stop-over. His workload here amounted to just two performances in Sydney, on the way back to Canada from New Zealand. Those who heard him at the Regent on Tuesday night will remember him as a beautiful jazz pianist whom nobody came out to see. The very small audience attended made it difficult for Jones, along with Ed Gaston (bass) and Alan Turnbull (drums), to create a warm atmosphere for jazz. Still, Jones showed he is a splendid musician, with superb control over virtually every aspect of modern jazz piano…
Jo Truman
STATES OF THE ART: FINE PERFORMANCES BY ORIGINAL TALENT
by Eric Myers
The Australian, January 11, 1985
The opening night of this contemporary jazz series, staged by the Sydney Improvised Music Association (SIMA), was sold out, indicating that there is, in Sydney, an appreciative audience for original and individual jazz. The Judy Bailey Sextet struck the first blow with Bailey (piano), Ron Philpott (electric bass), Harry Rivers (drums), Dave Colton (guitar), Andrew Wilkie (vibes) and Bobby Scott (percussion and vocals). They played a number of impressive compositions by Bailey and Philpott… The vocalist Jo Truman, performed in three settings: with Sandy Evans (saxophones) and Cleis Pearce (viola); solo; and, when she played the didjeridoo, accompanied by the dancer Felicity McDonald…
Don Harper
DON HARPER’S ENSEMBLE: OFFERING SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT
by Eric Myers
The Australian, February 1, 1985
At a time when there is a depressing sameness about the music being presented in Sydney's major jazz venues, Don Harper's Australian Chamber Jazz Ensemble offers something a little different and appealing. The violinist Harper, one of this country's finest musicians, recently returned to live in Australia, after a distinguished career of some 30 years in England and Europe. At the Regent on Wednesday, his quartet included Harper’s nephew Steve McKenna (guitar), Ed Gaston (bass), and David Jones (drums)…