LOUDMOUTH ARTICLES & REVIEWS
This folder contains reviews and articles written by various authors for the Music Trust’s e-zine Loudmouth. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews or articles in this folder.
John Pochée
OBITUARY: JOHN POCHÉE OAM 1940-2022
by Eric Myers
Loudmouth, November 28, 2022
“John Pochée is a drummer. He has aspirations to no other role. He has shown what it can mean to be a drummer; that there is a certain nobility in this calling. Pochée is in the very vanguard of an elite group of drummers in clearly and forcefully projecting a complete musical concept. Through leading and/or playing in some of our most important ensembles, Pochée has influenced the sound of contemporary Australian music - jazz in particular, but not exclusively jazz - as much as any living musician…” (John Clare)
James Morrison
JAMES MORRISON AT FOUNDRY 616
Reviewed by Eric Myers
Loudmouth, April 1, 2023
This was a gig to be savoured, for the simple reason that we’re not used to hearing James Morrison, far and away the most popular drawcard in Australian jazz, in the intimate surroundings of the small jazz club. In a nutshell Morrison’s performance confirmed why he bestrides the Australian jazz scene like a colossus. There are good musical reasons for his popularity, and I will do my best to delineate some of them here. Firstly, he now has what I’ve previously described as possibly his most swinging quartet ever, and it must be heartwarming for James that two of its three members are his highly talented sons: guitarist William Morrison, now 27, and bassist Harry Morrison, now 25. There’s no doubt that the sons of the father have inherited much of James’s extraordinary musical ability…
John Pochée
TEN PART INVENTION’S TRIBUTE TO JOHN POCHÉE
Reviewed by Eric Myers
The Great Club, Marrickville, March 12, 2023
Loudmouth, April 1, 2023
Hearing Ten Part Invention (TPI) at this performance was seriously uplifting, prompting several important realisations. Firstly, the band has been in existence for 37 years, since its formation for the Adelaide Festival in 1986. Some might consider that a long enough stint and merely a credit to the players who have loyally served over the years. But, in today’s world, I believe its survival is as important as ever. Why? Because of the quality of its music. TPI’s book of charts, which runs to some 80 specially commissioned works, written primarily by Sandy Evans, Miroslav Bukovsky and the late Roger Frampton, but also including pieces by other leading Australian composers, contains some of the most interesting and valuable writing for large ensemble in Australian jazz. Secondly, as long as outstanding musicians are available to play this repertoire, as was the case with the line-up featured at this performance at the Great Club, the music deserves to survive…