In 2009 Judy Bailey gave a long, insightful interview to Belinda Webster (of Tall Poppies records) for the second issue of ‘Extempore’ — the jazz journal which was this website’s predecessor — sharing her story, her discovery of the piano, of jazz, of improvisation; she also talks about her approach to teaching, her effort to bring jazz and classical music together, and she stresses the importance of ‘alert listening’.
IN 1979 Judy Bailey gave an interview to Pop/Jazz legend Janice Slater, one of the leading figures of the Australian music scene of the ’60s and ’70s. It is a snapshot of its time (including the tai-chi references), but it is also a testament to Judy Bailey’s lifelong commitment to her craft and the art form she chose as a means of expression.
Whether you’re a die-hard jazzophile or looking for a night of world-class entertainment, this is live music at its finest — up close and personal. From timeless standards to modern jazz brilliance, don’t miss out on the best of live jazz in the intimate, welcoming atmosphere of The Lounge.
Of course, it’s wrong to call The Cloud Maker ‘Aviva Endean’s project’ — it misses so many marks. First and foremost, this is a collective project, featuring four unique female artists, each with her own trajectory. More importantly, this is quite literally a case of divine inspiration.
There’s a reason Alexander Beets has been nicknamed ‘The Hurricane’; yes, the nickname refers to his tempestuous playing and his big sound, but if you talk to him, you can understand how the sound is a natural byproduct of a big personality.
The show was loud, celebratory, deliberate — it was the kind that reminds you what live music does to the human system. Ibrahim Maalouf made everyone in the club dance, sweat, jump and sing. “Sorry to those who came to listen to jazz,” he grinned near the end.
Who is Tom Ollendorff, you ask? Great question! He is simply one of the brightest shootings stars of the jazz guitar in Europe at the moment.
An adventurous guitarist, a daring performer, an inventive composer, a dedicated educator, and a champion of equity and inclusion in music and academia, Jess Green has made a name for herself, chasing that creative spark that happens when music takes a turn you didn’t see coming. Now she’s bringing that same fearless energy to her new role, as program director of the Sydney Women’s International Jazz Festival.
A vocalist whose singing is like a warm embrace, a flutist weaving long, winding pathways of sound, and a groove champion who uses sampling as if it’s a jazz instrument on its own merit, Melanie Charles looks up at the star map of jazz and black music, identifies planets and galaxies, and travels from one place to another, her trajectory connecting the dots spread over 6-7 decades of music and culture — all through the lens of what she calls her ‘personal diaspora’.
Few musicians in Naarm/ Melbourne are as unpredictable as Solune. Now she’s back with Mad Vantage, a mind-blowing, take-no-prisoners blend of groove-centric nu-jazz and prog metal.
Halfway into this interview, Allana Goldsmith stopped talking; she welled up, and had to take a breath. She was talking about her effort to reclaim her language, being the first one in her family after generations to learn Maori. A magnificent vocalist, she is using her powerful instrument as a form of activism. Along with pianist Mark Baynes, they have created a hauntingly beautiful collection of songs, exploring the ways jazz — in all its iterations — can blend with Maori culture.
Great band, Zodiac. Young ones. Amazing players. High energy. Deep feeling. Fresh sound. Impressive jazz sensitivity. Seamless blend of different styles. Chill, yet intense. Definitely one to watch.
Samara Joy is that ray of sunshine, crowned Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammys, armed with nothing but her natural talent, a voice that flows like honey, a repertoire championing the legacy of the Great American Songbook, a work ethic that puts many to shame, a team of great musicians who see her as their peer, and what is certainly and unmistakably an old soul. (Okay, all that is certainly not ‘nothing’.)
