JOHN CLARE

This section is dedicated to the work of John Clare, who began writing in the early 70s, and has long been regarded as the doyen of Australian jazz writers. Helen Garner, in her preface to Clare's book Take Me Higher, describes how she used to cut out his writings under his Gail Brennan pseudonym and paste them into her diary. Originally she thought the articles were written by a woman. She describes his writing as "superbly literate and articulate, deeply informed, yet completely ordinary in tone, even at their most elated. A relaxed freedom flowed through everything he wrote. He was fearless. He rejoices. He celebrated. Years later, an art critic who admired him said to me: John Clare’s an ecstatic.” Many of John Clare's articles that were published previously in various publications are collected here. Click on the INDEX button for a list of articles in this folder.

REVIEWS OF CLARION FRACTURE ZONE

by Gail Brennan/John Clare

Sydney Morning Herald, 1988-1990

Most people would rather make music than work in a factory, but many musicians have to work on the production lines in order to mount their own projects. Husband and wife Tony Gorman and Sandy Evans have been saxophones for hire in almost every conceivable situation…

A JAZZ ODYSSEY: MY LIFE IN JAZZ

by Oscar Peterson

Reviewed by John Clare

Sydney Morning Herald, August 30, 2003

Oscar Peterson could make the piano ring with brilliant clarity in all its registers. His command of the jazz vocabulary was magisterial, his swing and inventive flow almost frightening at times. He has suffered a stroke, but still plays beautifully. His fans are legion. He has been invited into the homes of European nobility to play a treasured instrument after dinner. The head of Steinway sent a piano of his own choosing for Peterson to try when he heard the musician was looking for a new instrument. This is Oscar Peterson's story in his own words…

THE WANGARATTA JAZZ FESTIVAL 1990

by Gail Brennan/John Clare

Sydney Morning Herald, October/November, 1990

Two articles by Gail Brennan appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, one a preview of the festival on October 30, 1990, entitled “The South Has Risen Again” and the other on November 7, 1990, a review entitled “Best jazz festival ever”…