THE AUSTRALIAN

The Australian has been Australia’s national newspaper since 1964. This folder contains reviews and articles written by Eric Myers and published in The Australian since September, 2015. Text published in the newspaper is reproduced here, with the addition of photographs which may or may not have appeared in The Australian.

FRANCES MADDEN: ORIGINAL TUNES HELP SHAKE BLUES AWAY

by Eric Myers

The Australian, December 4, 2020

In a 90-minute performance which became more authoritative and moving as it went along, pianist/singer/songwriter Frances Madden launched her new album Beautiful World on Saturday night…

BOOK REVIEW: JAZZ DIASPORA MUSIC AND GLOBALISATION

by Bruce Johnson

Reviewed by Eric Myers

The Australian, January 30, 2021

Over its century of existence, jazz in the United States has produced a body of musical works of the highest quality; a canon which serves as a point of departure for most jazz enthusiasts around the world. The history of that music has been segmented into manageable and understandable periods, usually of a decade or so, where acknowledged masters, usually African American, are said to epitomize a particular era… Jazz enthusiasts worldwide rarely had cause to question this convenient conceptual framework, until the late 20th century, when the so-called New Jazz Studies movement began chipping away at it. In his fascinating new book, Jazz Diaspora: Music and Globalisation, the Australian cultural historian Professor Bruce Johnson now brings the matter to a head…

PAUL CUTLAN STRING PROJECT

by Eric Myers

The Australian, February 10, 2021

In Parramatta on Sunday, a substantial audience was able to enjoy a unique musical experience, courtesy of Sydney woodwind virtuoso Paul Cutlan. I say unique for three reasons. Firstly, Cutlan’s music was built around the classic string quartet, rarely heard in jazz. Secondly, while including the well-known soprano saxophone, Cutlan primarily used the bass clarinet, an instrument so difficult to play that it’s usually avoided by jazz musicians, and therefore also rarely heard. Thirdly, there was no drum-kit, which might have handicapped the music. Ironically, this worked in Cutlan’s favour…