Loss, grief and healing
Canberra Jazz blog - Sun 23 Mar 2025
As I write this I regret that I hadn't read the generous and informative program notes before this performance.  This was Oriana Chorale performing at Wesley Church and the title/theme was We are not ready : Music of loss, of grief and of healing.  Not an easy topic and the program even... ... More...

Shirley's sun shines
Canberra Jazz blog - Fri 21 Mar 2025
  I should advise a potential conflict of interest but it is nice when the Canberra Theatre Centre invites you to a performance.  I guess it's my blog that does it.  Does this make me an influencer?  Maybe, but very much i- not I-.  I wonder if this is relevant for the pe... ... More...

Two Roberts
Canberra Jazz blog - Wed 19 Mar 2025
It's been a break for family visits and long drives but now it's back on for young and old.  First up is my regular Wesley Lunchtime concert, this time with pianist Robert Schmidli, one of my early classical recordees, playing Robert Schumann.  As ever, nicely prepared and performed wit... ... More...

Doing the drum rounds
Canberra Jazz blog - Sat 8 Mar 2025
I'd played with Hugh Magri-Bull but it was only at a jam session and a jam session is just a few tunes on different gear and nothing like a decent gig over three hours.  This was a Tilt outing at the Dickson Taphouse and it's a great place to up the energy for essentially jazz musicians.&nbs... ... More...

Somewhere around baroque
Canberra Jazz blog - Fri 7 Mar 2025
I'd talked of baroque music, but this is really earlier, I guess, still baroque but early?  It's certainly not Bach.  Perhaps I think baroque given the gut violin strings and plucked string tones of the harpsichord.  This was John Ma and Marie Searles playing duo.  Marie with ... ... More...

Chopin as is or should be
Canberra Jazz blog - Fri 28 Feb 2025
I think of Chopin as I remember playing it, a very inarticulate student take.  It wasn't pretty.  But to hear Chopin played by someone committed to it, who studied at the Fryderyck Chopin Academy in Warsaw, no less, was instructive and awe-inspiring.  Suddenly I could understand an... ... More...

A matter of will
Canberra Jazz blog - Sun 23 Feb 2025
I hadn't realised the extent of Andrew Koll's programming until after this latest Canberra Bach Ensemble concert at St Christopher's.  We chatted after and he told us of the theme, the will of God.  I had been amused by a translated line, Lord, as you will! (Herr, wie du willt!, apparen... ... More...

History and today
Canberra Jazz blog - Thu 20 Feb 2025
The first Wesley Wednesday lunchtime concert for the year was a doozy, starting with Hildegard von Bingen and ending with modern Americana by composer Caroline Shaw.  And the performers were apt.  Rachel Mink sang and she told that her parents live near a property sung of, and the youth... ... More...

Returns, day 2
Canberra Jazz blog - Mon 17 Feb 2025
Day 2 of my Blues weekend was a very different experience.  This was the monthly Canberra Blues Society Pro Jam session.  I've attended these numerous times in the past and just recently hankered for a return.  It's fun and friendly and a hive for some old friends and it has its ch... ... More...

Returns, day 1
Canberra Jazz blog - Sun 16 Feb 2025
It's a blues weekend and the fact that I had to renew my membership to the Germo revels how long it's been since the last one.  Saturday was a show-cum-cover band playing Hendrix and musics of his era, late-'60s, early-'70s.  Hendrix was first up and the band was a trio as expected with... ... More...