Jazz at SmithsGeoff’s Jazz at Smiths 2020 Wed Feb 5 ISAAC SAID GROUP (CBR) Tues Mar 10 TIM GELDENS POCKET TRIO (SYD) Wed Apr 1 JAMES LUKE’S TRIBUTE TO J.S. BACH IN JAZZ (CBR) Wed May 6 LEONIE COHEN TRIO (SYD) Wed Jun 3 EAMON MCNELIS QUINTET CHARLIE PARKER CENTENARY TRIBUTE #1 (MELB): THE SOFTER SIDE OF CHARLIE Wed July 1 MURRAY JACKSON QUINTET CHARLIE PARKER CENTENARY TRIBUTE#2 (SYD): Wed Aug 5 MARK SUTTON GROUP (CBR): Modern Jazz in Canberra 1980 to 2020 Wed Sep 2 HOBART JAZZ QUARTET (TED VINING) (TAS) Wed Oct 7 JASON BRUER AND HAMMERHEAD (SYD) Wed Nov 4 MARK GINSBURG (SYD) Wed Dec 2 GREG COFFIN TRIO (SYD) Admission $25/$20 (conc) $10 ANU students. The Isaac Said Trio comprises Isaac Said on bass, Hugh Magri-Bull on drums and Caleb Campbell on piano. They represent the high point of current young jazz talent in this city. The concert is designed as tribute to the piano trio in jazz and will include reference to famous trios led by Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Abdullah Ibrahim, Oscar Peterson, Brad Meldau and others. It’s an unusual chance to hear top young players acknowledging a central tradition in modern jazz while approaching it from their own unique and youthful angles. The Pocket Trio are a feel-good jazz ensemble with a focus on tight arrangements and groovy pockets. Together they swing with an incredible sense of energy and rhythm, guaranteed to provoke smiles, foot-tapping and good times. They love to re-perform complex and exciting arrangements transcribed from classic trios from the Jazz canon, namely those led by Oscar Peterson, Bill Charlap, Christian McBride and Ahmad Jamal. With the tradition of swinging jazz close to heart, the trio have recently recorded an album of originals which reflect their unique approach, imbued with the sense of energy and tradition for which they are renowned. Andrew Scott (Piano) James Luke’s Tribute to J.S. Bach in Jazz James Luke: Bass The Leonie Cohen Trio (Leonie Cohen piano, Hugh Fraser bass and Nic Cecire drums) unfolds a mix of moving interpretations of standards and a beautiful array of original compositions. Cohen has performed extensively around Australia, including at Sydney Festival, Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Sydney Opera House, Spiegel Tent and Bennetts Lane. She has toured with David Campbell, Christa Hughes and Club Swizzle (La Soirée), been commissioned by the Sydney Opera House and recorded for the ABC. “Cohen plays absolutely beautifully. Superb.” The Sweeter Side Of Charlie: The Eamon McNelis Quintet Charlie “Bird” Parker was one of the early innovators of bebop, a style of jazz characterised by uptempo virtuosity and advanced harmony; but Bird also had a heart of gold. He was man of big appetites, immense personality and great contradictions, and truly one of the greatest of jazz’s greats. In a tribute to Bird on the 100th anniversary of the birth, trumpeter Eamon McNelis will perform a selection of some of Bird’s most endearing and enduring repertoire; to find the sweeter side of Charlie. With a band of some Australia’s best “trying to play clean and looking for the pretty notes”, (to quote Charlie himself). Eamon McNelis Trumpet Murray Jackson Quintet: Charlie Parker Centenary #2 Murray’s notes: I don’t want to put on a tribute show but I do want to find a way to explore my fascination for this enigmatic genius. The other thing that fascinates me is the lens that Australian musicians have seen Parker through. When I was growing up in Sydney the influence of bebop was really strong in the jazz scene. I found some of it prissy and slavish but some of the musicians had taken him and made it their own. It felt as gritty and authentic as the inner-west streets. He had a huge influence of the musicians I was checking out at the time like Bernie McGann, ‘Killer Joe’ Lane and Bobby Gebert. All of these greats had found a way to take the music and put it in an contemporary Australian context that felt vital and alive. I hope we can do the same with this gig. I know all the musicians love and respect the legacy and will bring something of their own along too. Murray Jackson – Alto Sax Mark Sutton Group: Modern Jazz in Canberra 1980 to 2020 The Hobart Jazz Quartet Powerhouse sextet Hammerhead burst onto the Sydney scene in 2010, playing music largely inspired by the late 50s and early 60s ‘Hard Bop’ movement. Formed by internationally acclaimed tenor saxophonist Jason Bruer, Andrew Robertson (alto sax and flute), Cam McAllister (trumpet), Greg Coffin (piano), Alex Hirlian (drums) and Brendan Clarke (bass) make up the sextet. Over the last few years, their music has morphed into a set of all original compositions from the pen of band leader Bruer, showcasing his eclectic array of disparate influences including hard edged Urban Jazz, Hard Bop, Funk and Chamber Jazz illustrating a considerable contemporary shift in approach and style. 2019 saw the release of their second CD ‘Turning Point’ which contains ten original compositions by bandleader Jason Bruer, showcasing his array of disparate influences. The Mark Ginsburg Quartet features Mark Ginsburg on saxophones, Gerard Masters on piano, Canberra’s own Brendan Clarke on bass and Evan Mannell on drums. Mark’s music spans a number of continents including Africa, Italy and Australia. This quartet celebrates a reunion of musicians who all studied together at the Sydney Con at the turn of the century but have been working on different projects over the intervening decades. Mark’s projects, recordings and tours have been well-received and have seen him perform at many of Australia’s premier music festivals as well as venues around the world. The Greg Coffin Trio Traditional jazz piano trio format whose music is anything but. A unique, original contemporary jazz sound consisting of open expansive explorations of rhythm, harmony and melody. An exquisite rapport and ensemble sound developed over twenty of performing and creating music together, the Greg Coffin trio have released two albums of entirely original compositions. If you are lucky, they may even throw in a cheeky standard or two for good measure. Described by the legendary Mike Nock as “a hard hitting and exciting modern jazz trio that pulls no punches. This is a group that is much more than the sum of its formidable parts” Greg Coffin Piano |