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.

MATT KEEGAN’S “VIENNA DREAMING”

by Eric Myers

The Australian, March 2, 2021

In a powerful performance on Sunday night, the gifted saxophonist Matt Keegan premiered his suite Vienna Dreaming, inspired by his great grandfather the Austrian pianist & composer Heini Portnoj. This was the latest example of so-called “programme music” produced by leading Sydney jazz musicians. This genre, best described as instrumental art music inspired by a non-musical narrative, has existed for centuries but, in recent years, there has been a rash of them in Sydney…

SYDNEY CON JAZZ FESTIVAL’S WELCOME RETURN

Review by Eric Myers

The Australian, June 7, 2021

This splendid one-day event, not held in 2020 because of covid, roared back triumphantly on Sunday. Despite international travel being virtually non-existent, artistic director David Theak was able to put together a first-class program, featuring accredited internationals, stars from around Australia, and highly talented students emerging from the local jazz studies program. At day’s end, the organisers could hold their heads high and bask in the light of substantial achievement. Having said that, it would be remiss not to mention the key factor which marred some performances: lack of attention to sound balance… 

REUBEN LEWIS: A WORK FOR IMPROVISED TRUMPET & ELECTRONIC SOUNDSCAPE

Reviewed by Eric Myers

The Australian, October 4, 2021

The 2021 Earshift Music Festival began on Friday night with a fascinating solo performance by Melburnian Reuben Lewis (trumpet, pedals, laptop, synthesiser). It opened ten consecutive nights of online performances, with an array of innovative improvisers still to come, ranging from the orthodox to those experimenting with sound. Lewis played trumpet with one hand while twiddling knobs on a pedal board with the other. In the background ghostly images of himself appeared, playing either a laptop or a keyboard, against a lush electronic soundscape. What is happening here? Lewis is active in what appears to be a new genre in Australian jazz…