Eric Myers Jazz

sydney arts guide

This folder contains reviews written by Eric Myers for the Sydney Arts Guide, edited by David Kary. Readers can click on the INDEX button for a list of reviews or articles in this folder.

YEOL EUM SON PLAYS TCHAIKOVSKY’S FIRST PIANO CONCERTO

Reviewed by Eric Myers

Sydney Arts Guide, September 1, 2026

The South Korean pianist Yeol Eum Son delivered a spirited rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No 1 on August 21, 2026 with the SSO. As this concert commenced at 11 am, it was a relatively new experience for me, as I’m often still at home sleeping at this time in the morning. Still, Yeol Eum’s powerful version of this extremely well-known work was enough to keep awake even the most sleepy listener. I say “extremely well-known work” justifiably, as even many people who know little of classical music can sing the melody which is played by the orchestra in the opening bars of the concerto and which is restated without further ado by the pianist soon after…

THE BLUE RHYTHM BAND PLAYS ELLINGTON AT THE LOUNGE

Reviewed by Eric Myers

Sydney Arts Guide, September 2, 2026

I’m told that this concert in Chatswood was sold out. Once again the standard of excellence which has become characteristic of this series – ten monthly jazz concerts per year at the 300-seater venue known as The Lounge - was upheld courtesy of Culture Bites, Willoughby City Council’s unique program of arts and culture. Drummer Andrew Dickeson has been a regular participant in various bands which have graced the Lounge stage over the years, with vocalist Gregg Arthur’s band more than once, and also with other groups led by luminaries such as pianist Peter Locke, and expatriate bassist Nicki Parrott, now resident in Australia after 30 years in New York. On this occasion Dickeson led his own quartet Blue Rhythm Band…

JAMES MORRISON AND PATRICK BARTLEY AT CREMORNE ORPHEUM

Reviewed by Eric Myers

Sydney Arts Guide, September 5, 2026

In presenting the extraordinary African American alto saxophonist Patrick Bartley at Cremorne Orpheum in Sydney on August 29 – the opening concert of Bartley’s Australian tour - multi-instrumentalist James Morrison was on a winner from the first note played. This is not unusual for Morrison, who has a habit of fashioning his concerts so capably and intelligently, that they usually work well. His concerts, which are invariably sold out, as this one was, are determinedly adventurous – there’s no doubt in my mind about this - and I’ll do my best to decipher the elements on this occasion which were keys to the concert’s success…