Two Presidents and a Saxophone (Part 1)

A crash course in the history of the saxophone, by jazz master Andy Sugg

YolanDa Brown: “This is a good time to be a woman in jazz”

“When you think of Bob Marley or Peter Tosh and their music, it’s a snapshot of what the political landscape is, they’re saying: this is the world we live today; wouldn’t it be better if it was a better place? I think that’s the question that I want to raise in my music.”

Jamie Oehlers: Walking the tightrope

Jamie Oehlers: “Everything we do is enveloped in the arts, from the music we hear on the radio, the television shows we watch, the community events that draw people together, the phone we put in our hand. Art is all around us and inspires new thought and communication. This is how we create an identity as a national – not through digging up coal.”

Melbourne International Jazz Festival’s sax appeal

The reports were true. Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock are among us, walking in the streets of Melbourne, even checking out Bopstretch’s electifying-as-usual performance at […] Read More

REVIEW: Michael Griffin & Dale Barlow – Tribute to Cannonball & Coltrane

To see the two men working together, obviously digging each other’s playing was a thrill that pointed to this being one of the jazz gigs of the year for me. Griffin was overjoyed to be locking horns, literally, with the great Dale; Barlow, for his part, equally seemed to enjoy having the younger player’s sparkling alto nipping at his heels, pushing him into some hair-raising tenor work.

Michael Griffin’s Unexpected Greeting

I have come late to the amazing playing of Sydney’s Michael Griffin. Walking into an Andrew Dickerson Quintet gig off the street I was floored […] Read More

Willow Neilson’s Lightbulb Life

Willow’s latest release Lightbulb Life has been in my headphones for the last few days. It’s a sound window into an exotic location, an insight into a city and its people through Willow’s ears.

Q&A with James Annesley – 2009 NJA Finalist

When did you start playing saxophone and why? For example, was there a ‘moment’ when it came to you as a calling or vocation? When […] Read More

Q&A with David Jackson – 2009 NJA Finalist

Miriam Zolin: When did you start playing saxophone and why?  For example, was there a ‘moment’ when it came to you as a calling or […] Read More

Q&A with Jon Crompton – 2009 NJA Finalist

Jon Crompton, saxophone, from Melbourne When did you start playing saxophone and why? For example, was there a ‘moment’ when it came to you as […] Read More