ESSAYS

This section includes essays on various jazz subjects, written by a number of writers. Contributions are welcome. Writers interested in contributing are welcome to contact the editor by filling out the form in the CONTACT tab. Photographs to illustrate those essays are welcome. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of articles in this folder.

UNITY HALL JAZZ BAND: WORLD'S LONGEST RUNNING GIG

by Nick Galvin

Sydney Morning Herald, August 11, 2016

It's another Sunday afternoon in Balmain and jazz legend Gary Walford is holding court from the piano keyboard at the Unity Hall pub just as he has done for the past 44 years. Above him a cheeky lightbox sign reads "I heard Splendour is crap anyways" – not that any of the devotees of the Unity Hall Jazz Band would likely give Byron Bay's upstart festival a second thought...

PAUL MCNAMARA: A JAZZ THINKER

by Eric Myers

Jazz Magazine, May/June, 1982

In June, 1982, the Sydney jazz pianist, educator and composer Paul McNamara flew overseas to study in New York for eight weeks. He took up one of the two Don Banks Memorial Fellowships for 1982, sponsored jointly by the Music Board of the Australia Council and Pan American Airways…

ALAN TURNBULL: THE FACE BEHIND THE DRUMS

by John Shand

Jazz Magazine, May/June, 1982

Alan Turnbull has become the best known face-behind-the-drums in Sydney jazz. Through his early association with Don Burrows and George Golla, he was widely considered No 1, but the influx of Americans in the past couple of years has clinched the deal. Not only is he a regular member of support bands on these occasions, but he has become the local drummer to use when the Americans come here without sidemen...