 |
| Happenings |
Stay warm with like-minded Sydney jazz hipsters
Like the Mamas & The Papas sang it, all the leaves are brown, and the sky is grey. Ok, but Sydney is still a stunning town when the sun sets early, and an early sunset means even you early birds are shrouded in darkness entering your favourite Surry Hills place of entertainment. No, not the strip club upstairs.
Leading us down the windy slope to winter are old label favourites Leonie Cohen and Informal Troupe, stage regulars Amphibious and Showa 44 and an exciting new collection of familiar people, Greening From Ear to Ear.
Down at winter base camp, our June lineup sees the return of the ADs Pick; an allstar lineup paying a long-awaited tribute to the music of Roger Frampton, and those ripening chestnuts of Sydney music, Mike Nock and Jeremy Sawkins.
|
Show me all that jazz  |
|
|
Selecta
 Tim Clarkson began playing jazz at age 15 in rural Queensland. Since moving to Sydney in 1998, he has appeared with a diverse array of performers in Australia. Tim recently followed up his Masters Degree research at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music on saxophonist Mark Turner by studying with him for 3 months in New York. The Tim Clarkson Trio launch CRAB with special guests - Matt McMahon and Phil Slater Duo on Tuesday 25th May at 505
Kurt Rosenwinkel Group - The Remedy
Mark Turner and Kurt Rosenwinkel - Two of the most original minds in modern jazz. This live double album recorded at the Village Vanguard captures many of the directions I aspire to in my own writing and improvisation. Mark Turner on tenor saxophone is my current hero on the instrument, and hearing him in full flight in live performance is a heart-rending experience. His solo on "A Life Unfolds" is possibly the most gut-wrenchingly beautiful thing I have ever heard. The phrase that comes to mind is "singularly focussed".
Jigzag - In The Middle
A must-listen Australian folk band - one of the best and very dear friends. This album (and all their others) is one that has reached the depths of my soul in the darkest of times, and uplifted me at the best. Beautiful melodies, original writing, it travels with me wherever in the world I am. An amazing balance of gorgeous lyrics, intelligent musicianship and more heartfelt soul than New Orleans style BBQ ribs. Laugh and cry - the best combination.
Barney Mcall - Flashback
Barney's compositional sense and playing I can only descibe as "epically beautiful". This album featuring Kurt Rosenwinkel and their performances at the 2007 Wangaratta Jazz Festival was the beginning of a number of things in my life, musically and personally. Every note Barney plays makes my heart ache. Immense gratitude to Barney both for recording with me in February in NYC and for contributing three lush and intensely beautiful compositions to the session.
David Binney - South
My original proposal for my masters thesis was a study of the compositions and improvisation of David Binney. A huge influence on my compositions over the last 3 years, one of the most unique minds and virtuosic improvisers in modern jazz. He explores much cellular development and can span from standards to complex intellectual material and pop-like melodies seamlessly - the consumate musician.The lineup on this album is stellar with Chris Potter and Uri Caine. I think I saw him play 15 times during my recent trip to New York to study with Mark Turner, and Binney's drummer Dan Weiss (now there's another topic!) was kind enough to record with me in NYC - a monstrous inspiration.
Huun Hur Tu and The Angelite Choir - Fly Fly My Sadness
An astounding colaboration between two of my favourite forms of music - Tuvan throat singing and the crunchiness of Bulgarian folk song. I have been a fan of Huun Hur Tu since their haunting first international release - "60 Horses In My Herd". Beautifully crafted, this is the raw beauty of music.
Coleman Hawkins - The High and Mighty Hawk
My first Coleman Hawkins record. His version of My One and Only Love on this album is my favourite to this day. The whole album swings hard but with a grace, elegance and romanticism of the highest calibre, especially Buck Clayton. Hank Jones is playing at his finest on this record, and I used to listen to it every day after school, wondering how they managed to be so beautiful and spontaneous all at the same time. One of my inspirations to play jazz.
Dave Matthews Band - Crash
The epitome of heartfelt, exposed, but mature and measured songwriting. This album has meant a lot to me and helped me to experience life fully and undiluted through some of the toughest times. Plus it grooves at a level previously unknown to man. It also reminds me about simplicity, and that music doesn't have to be complicated to move forwards, or to mean something.
Benoit Delbeq Unit - Phonetics
A recent release and recent discovery that Paul Grabovsky turned me onto when we crossed paths in New York. Delbeq's etherial melodies and sense of form and open space are perfect to feature Mark Turner doing what he does best. Other-worldly, somewhere inbetween free jazz, middle eastern marketplace, New York jazz club and outerspace, this bent my mind when I heard it. Truly beautiful and a groundbreaking example of being 'in the moment'.
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman
Ah, but which John Coltrane album to pick?! I think what gets me about this album is the attention to sound. As a horn player I spend a lot of time thinking just about the sound of the instrument, and I feel like everyone on this record is really coaxing their sound with love and passion. Of all the amazing Coltrane albums, this is the one that makes me cry, especially him beside the deep, lush tones of Johnny Hartman's voice.
Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker with Strings
It's hard to play jazz, especially as a sax player, without being influenced by Charlie Parker. I feel this has stood the test of time as Bird's masterpiece - in full flight and in fine form. The dexterity and ease with which Bird dives in, out and around the harmony still blows my mind; his time, his vision and purpose in every note. An early inspiration for getting better at playing the instrument. I don't know if it's possible to wear out a CD, but I'm trying....
back to the top
|
|
|
|
