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.

LEE KONITZ: VISITING JAZZ GREAT SUBMERGED

by Eric Myers

The Australian, April 17, 1985

There was a time when Australian jazz musicians supporting overseas stars were self-effacing and reluctant to be in the spotlight. There was little need for such self-deprecation. Abundant evidence has shown over the last ten years or so, since I’ve been listening to live jazz in Sydney, that leading local musicians have invariably acquitted themselves beautifully in the company of even the most legendary American musician. The alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is certainly one of those greats of American jazz, and his long awaited visit to Australia was keenly anticipated. This performance at the Regent was however was a disappointment for me, and I was genuinely puzzled at the approach taken by the local musicians who backed the visitor…

ADE MONSBOURGH: PRE-SWING STYLE GETS ‘EM DANCING

by Eric Myers

The Australian, July 26, 1985

The Melbourne musician Ade Monsbourgh, in this rare Sydney performance, convincingly demonstrated that early forms of jazz still have tremendous life in this country. Monsbourgh, 68, played tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, clarinet and descant recorder in a style that recalled the early 1930s when jazz was moving out of the classic jazz era and into the swing era. One might call that style "pre-swing" jazz. One analyst has described it as "Melbourne jump music" since it has become a recognisable idiom in Australian jazz. The characteristics of this style are melodic and symmetrical improvisations in short bursts (usually one chorus only), the use of a wide vibrato, and hot playing…

BRIAN BROWN: FIREWORKS FROM MASTER MUSICIANS

by Eric Myers

The Australian, August 14, 1985

Whenever the Melbourne saxophonist Brian Brown plays in Sydney, one hopes for fireworks, and this performance, his first in this city for years, provided them in abundance. His Australian Jazz Ensemble included Bob Sedergreen (piano), Geoff Kluke (bass), Michael Jordan (drums) and the vocalist Judy Jacques. Their importance cannot be overestimated…