ANUSOM not SCUNA
Canberra Jazz blog - Fri 16 Oct 2026
I've had to explain SCUNA to a few people over recent days and maybe the abbreviation ANUSOM is much the same, but I haven't done it.  [BTW, another difference: SCUNA is an acronym; ANUSOM is an initialism). Anyway, this was the annual fund raiser concert for the ANSOM (ANU School of Music) ... ... More...

Palace or chamber
Canberra Jazz blog - Thu 15 Oct 2026
I think it was Hampton Court Palace where Henry VIII strolled in while we were in the room.  But then it was not the real Henry VIII and the room didn't lend itself to intimate music anyway, like that was played in chamber.  I think of such things when I hear harpsichord and a solo inst... ... More...

Uni larks
Canberra Jazz blog - Mon 12 Oct 2026
It was another opportunity to play some great music with a choir and I loved it as always.  These choir spots are short on rehearsals, perhaps one for the musicians then a get-together with the choir and the performance, usually with a good run of a capella singing.  And how I love choi... ... More...

Many happy returns
Canberra Jazz blog - Thu 8 Oct 2026
It can be quite intriguing watching young players as they develop over the years.  Thus it is with Charles Huang.  This concert featured Schubert impromptu Abmaj, two Chopin Etudes, op.25 no.3 and no.5, the longer and more developed 3 and the unexpectedly short 5, and Beethoven Sonata n... ... More...

Travels and memories
Canberra Jazz blog - Mon 5 Oct 2026
I associate saxes with jazz rather than classical, but I was taken by the Andromeda Sax Quartet that played at Wesley.  I was recording and I had recorded them before and the theme of the concert, Mass transit, seemed pretty pedestrian (well, not on foot, but you get the idea) but it was any... ... More...

Deserving youth
Canberra Jazz blog - Thu 1 Oct 2026
I record Wednesday lunchtime concerts at Wesley and I often hear upcoming pianists, experienced with great teachers and Eisteddfod and the likes and it's a pleasure.  This day was Shreyas Sunkaraneni who I had seen before but not as a solo concert performer.  He was seriously impressive... ... More...

Voice as other
Canberra Jazz blog - Wed 30 Sep 2026
There was a second choral concert at Wesley and I stayed on to record that one too.  This was The Australian Voices, a very professional and young outfit singing original Australian compositions with very much creativity and originality.  I wrote of CCS earlier as the Sound of voice, as... ... More...

The sound of voice
Canberra Jazz blog - Tue 29 Sep 2026
I've come to love the sound of the voice, the most human of instruments.  I've also come to love a choral concert, so our annual outing of National Capital Orchestra and Canberra Choral Society is a highlight of my musical year.  We have done some amazing pieces in that format with 150 ... ... More...

Leading from the bottom
Canberra Jazz blog - Mon 28 Sep 2026
I walked in on Ben's Sextet playing some of the most authentic sounding Miles hard bop that I'd heard, given great playing but also the right format, a front line of tenor, alto, bari saxes and a rhythm section of piano, bass and drums.  It was Molly on a Friday night and the scene was good ... ... More...

China in 4, no.4
Canberra Jazz blog - Sat 26 Sep 2026
We didn't do too well finding local jazz, the venues mostly appearing to be bars and maybe with recorded music.  There was a Blue Note in Shanghai and some other locals of interest, House of Blues and Jazz, Heyday, Fairmont Peace Hotel with its old-time swingers, and perhaps a few other inte... ... More...