jOHN Pochée BIOGRAPHY
This folder contains reviews and articles pertaining to Eric Myers’s biography of the late Australian drummer/bandleader John Pochée, who died in November, 2022, Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews or articles in this folder.
Benny Carter
GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL 1991
by Eric Myers
The Australian, June 12, 1991
One merit of this festival was that it stimulated earnest discussion. Was it a success? There were as many different answers to this question as there were commentators. I believe it was a considerable success, and it drew some 4,000 people. But it can be improved. The Gold Coast festival cannot be compared to international festivals in other countries. It attracts only a small core of jazz buffs; the majority are curious about jazz. rather than into it. Naturally they are drawn to the big names – James Morrison, Vince Jones, Tommy Emmanuel, Monica and The Moochers. Delilah — where the jazz content is sometimes minimal. It is not true, as some say, that these "popular" artists are merely serving up music at the lowest common denominator. The festival showed that many of these performers have not been standing still…
Monica Trapaga
GOLD COAST HYPE LIVES
by Gail Brennan/John Clare
Gold Coast International Jazz and Blues Festival, June 8 and 9, 1991
Sydney Morning Herald, June 12, 1991
The Americans would call Gold Coasters "boosterish". The reviewer was driven down from Brisbane airport by a chauffeur who extolled the virtues of the various passing worlds — Dream, Movie, Sea and Villa — in a Scottish accent: "Thut Sea Wurrrld —it's just a grrrreat day oat!" In my room on the 17th floor of the Gold Coast International Hotel stood a bottle of port bearing the Gail Brennan label. Taking a sip, I opened the balcony doors and walked into a vast, flat panorama from ocean to mountains, and a choir sang Hallelujah, out of the middle air. This was actually the Cafe of the Gate of Salvation Gospel Choir who had just begun their performance in a canopied venue below. Hospitality was accepted on the understanding that an independent report would issue…
Brett Iggulden
FESTIVAL POPULAR BUT TAKES NO RISKS
by Adrian Jackson
Gold Coast International Hotel Jazz and Blues Festival, June 8 and 9, 1991
The Age, June 18, 1991
The Gold Coast International Hotel's third annual Jazz And Blues Festival was, by most measures, a great success. Over two days, more than 3,000 people crammed into the hotel's six venues to hear around 30 bands. The program boasted an exclusive appearance by Benny Carter, performances by fellow Americans Richie Cole and Big Jay McNeely, as well as drawcards like James Morrison, Tommy Emmanuel, Monica and the Moochers, Vince Jones and Wilbur Wilde. With so many crowd-pleasers the success was hardly surprising and, apart from the often appalling sound reproduction, the affair was smoothly run. My main complaint was the scant representation of contemporary jazz…