MJJ July20, 2011

Friday at the Leinster

When I arrived Col was on sax and Frank on guitar playing a relaxed cool brand of music. Pretty soon we had a couple of keyboard players, sax players, guitarists and a lot of bass players all eager for a turn. Fortunately Ted and Taariq took a turn on the drums to give us a bit of drive before Glen and Brad took over later. On sax we had Malcolm doing his thing on Blue Bossa with another neat solo from Glen on drums and Adam on bass (can a duo do a solo?). Killer Joe was pulled out quite early on but before Keith had arrived who joined Dario on a fine rendition of Autumn in New York. What a beautiful tone they get on their saxes. A newcomer to the Leinster was Shawn who cut a swathe on the keyboard regardless of whatever charts were put in front of him. He had been in Melbourne a week and got our details from the internet. Good to see our net presence is working and thanks again tothose who got it going. At one stage it was so busy Richard went to play pool and Stan went home. Before I left Maurizio was on guitar, Adam and Paul had been on bass and Taariq had been drummer for a while and was now playing piano. Ivan was cool as ever. The night was young and there was still a lot of music happening when I left.

Ray Mathews Brown for more info search for Ray at http://smoothjazzbassandguitar.blogspot.com roll call of truly dismal tunes played with incomparable banality. I like these train wrecks best; and it wouldn't be a real jam session if we didn't have four musos playing four different forms (tick), Blue Moon in two different keys simultaneously (tick, tick..) a short exposition of the blues form from a saxophonist which both bass player and piano player ignored (tick, tick, tick), two saxophones playing a "solo" at the same time (the soloist was the guitarist, but how were they to know?) tick, tick, tick, tick..

Jamspotting Sunday arvo saw the busiest session in ages, with about 432 saxophones vying for a spot, and drummers, bassist, pianists, singers and guitarists all queuing up. And some of them weren't too dusty either. Captain Chaos, Frank and the boys must be doing something right, although it does get harder for them to run things smoothly and make sure everyone gets a turn when the joint is truly jumping. Coming after a hot Friday night session, the turn up was a bit of a surprise, and some great music ensued, leavened of course with the usual

Jamspotting (contd) So there we were The Captain in fine form on sax Marion almost looking like she was having fun. Almost. Ray Hood on guitar , hamburger and chips. Frank positively subversive on bass Louis on mellodica Jack the lad, looking bemused at the bad Santana cover... POCKOTL on table four, gossiping up a storm Al Papa Jazz using both drumsticks, and not always at the same time, then Brad, then Glen on drums

and a whole bunch of enthusiastic, competent, incompetent, desperate, dubious and dateless musos in between... Just to make things interesting, the Guildford Lane Gallery sessions finish at the end of the month, and already the Leinster Lizard Leather Lounge and Cabaret is seeing the return of those musicisti who either fancied themselves as real musicians, or fancied the real grand pianos or were otherwise prepared to part with $10 at the door for an evening's masterclass from Steve S. It has been a grand experiment, and hopefully will continue elsewhere in due course. In the mean time, welcome back, join the queue...

Bass Player with the Wrong Notes Jam Sessions About last weeks bass player with the wrong notes this letter at the Leinster Arms from Zoot gives us the details: Hotel Friday 7:00pm till So Hank (Jones) introduced us. Hank said to Dizzy, This is Ray Brown, a friend of mine, and a very good bass player. late Dizzy said, You want a gig? I almost had a heart attack! Dizzy Sunday from 4pm said, Be at my house for rehearsal at 7 o'clock tomorrow. I went up there next night, and got the fright of my life. The band consisted of Dizzy, Bud Powell, Max Roach, Charlie Parker - and me! Two weeks later, we picked up Milt Jackson, who was my room-mate for two years.

The Leinster Arms Hotel

66 Gold Street, Collingwood For dinner bookings phone 9417 5720

After Id been with Dizzy about a month and figured I had everything down , I cornered him after the gig and said, Diz, howm I doin? He said, Oh fine. Except youre playin the wrong notes. Ray Brown was 19 years old at the time. (taken from a Gene Lees interview In Walked Ray published in Downbeat 1961).

www.leinsterarms.com.au

It is also recorded elsewhere that following this revelation, Dizzy, Ray and his bass would take themselves to the rooftop of the Three Deuces (where the Gillespie Sextet was working) between sets to introduce Ray to the then emerging concepts of bebop harmony. Ray never looked back. Gillespies observations of this phase of Rays development also lamenting that todays young musicians are not as inquisitive as they used to be examined the anomalies that arise in the bass players selection of tonic notes for extended and altered chords along the following lines; A chord expressed vertically as G flat, B natural and E flat would not unreasonably be heard and played by the bassist as A flat minor 7th with A flat as its tonic. What Dizzy wanted however was an extended/altered D dominant chord a D 13 flat 9th - supporting a diminished scale and probably resolving to some quality of a G chord. (Dizzys approach to harmony involves much use of this and other substitute dominant situations.) Zoot.

Jammers Newsletter
The Newsletter informs interested people of Jazz Jammers events, CD launches and jam sessions. It reviews past sessions, promotes events being put on by Jammers and encourages people to get involved in live performance. It also provides an informative and friendly network for musicians and followers of jazz.

The Jam Sessions

The jams feature a blend of accomplished musicians and those beginning their jamming careers. A great opportunity to drop in, meet other musicians, blow your heart out on your favourite tune or kick back and listen in. The music may be good, bad or bebop, swing, blues, latin or lousy anything can happen and often does! All are welcome. Bring charts, instruments, voices.

from the editor

Busy Nights
When we get to the jam some nights it can be pretty busy. Fortunately, not everyone wants to play all night and it is good when we can share the fun around. Group playing really is about sharing, sharing our time, sharing our preferences, sharing our vision of the music and sharing the load, the responsibility. To do that we have to watch what others are doing and of course listen to each other.

Wrong Notes
So even Ray Brown can play wrong notes . . . but what a teacher to have in Dizzy Gillespie. Feedback or comments can be emailed to melbournejazzjammers@gmail.com Rob McCue 20 July 2011

Have an enews item? Send by Tuesday night to

melbournejazzjammers@gmail.com

Jammers website
http://melbournejazzjammers.com/

Keyboard Player Wanted

Just wondering if there is a keyboard player aged between 20-40 years who may be interested in joining our band? Would be in it for the love of music, and not for money. Need quite good reading skills and comfortable with jazz as well as pop music. We play at Dizzy's once a month and any other gigs that come along, although we are looking at heading towards doing weddings and corporate gigs. Alex Loh, Band Director, Maestro Of Ceremonies M: 0413 008 924 E: allo@rocketmail.com W: http://www.maestroceremonies.com.au

Trad Jam at the Elsternwick Club 19 Sandham Street, Elsternwick Most Monday nights from 8-10 p.m.
A pianist is needed to be part of a roster for a weekly trad jazz jam. Players of other instruments and vocalists are also most welcome. We generally roster the drummers and pianists (one of each at a time) but everyone else is welcome to just turn up (but check that it's on first). Chord booklets are provided, but bring your own melodies and/or words for vocals if you need them. No audience, just a fun jam playing classic, old-style jazz. Enquiries: Marion Lustig 95715444 or 0407342882

Live Music Dates Anne Hayres Kojo Brown Sat 23 July John Curtis Jazz Quartet Kojo Brown 7pm Sat 30th July

Anne will be singing Jazz Standards with Tony Clement, sax, Dave Taylor, bass, Paul Alex Yarosh on guitar, Rene Tessmer on Phillips, drums and John Curtis on String Bass and a mystery man on keyboard. drums. If you haven't been, it is time to come along to this cute venue with great food and fabby free music.

Jan Blake Treble Clef Jazz Lounge 2 - 5pm Sun 31st July
Jan with Frank Morgan, Ned Taylor and friends

Steve Sedergreen Paris Cat Sat 3 September 9.30pm

Mistaken identity, Steve & Mal, Ted Vining, Nick Haywood Cost: $20 adults, $15 concession

David Ruiz & Trumpet Friday 7.30 to 11pm

We play every Friday night at the city tiler corner Graham street and Bay street, Port Melbourne, it's a groovy place that sells tiles by day and beers by night. We play jazz mainly but mix in some blues and a little early fifties style music to keep people dancing. We are called Trumpet and are comprised of me, David Ruiz on Vocals, Elliot Joe on guitar, Anthony Pell on double bass, Mihoko Abe on the saxophone and Jules on drums. Come join the action between 7.30-11.00pm.

Sonya Veronica 8pm Thursday, 11 August l'Alliance Franaise de Melbourne Grey Street, St Kilda (ph 9525 3463)
As part of their Jeudi Jazzy series, with Mark Fitzgibbon (piano), Howard Cairns (bass) & Raj Jayaweera (drums). We'll be playing some chanson Franaise, rearranged by Mark Fitzgibbon with some jazz twists, from Hymne de l'amour to La Vie En Rose, dare I say Ne Me Quitte Pas? We'll see. We'll mix good old standard in the mix as well. Limited seats - Tickets: $23/18 (member of l'Alliance Franaise) - Please confirm with AF.

Sonya Veronica 9pm Friday 12 August Dizzy's Jazz Club

with Mark Fitzgibbon (piano), Howard Cairns (bass) & Raj Jayaweera (drums).

CD Releases Neon Bogart (Adam Rudegair) CD Release

I'm thrilled to announce my future noir project Neon Bogart's latest single Weightless is available online now on bandcamp!
adamrudegeair.bandcamp.com/album/weightlessunder-the-rainbow-double-single

From Taariq
CD#4 is coming out December 2011! It could be a 2 x CD set and will have new original jazz and world tunes plus more stuff featuring Taariq on a range of instruments plus some guest spots from people such Ed Bates, Mihoko Abe, Mike Hirsh, Angie Strickland and others. Meanwhile CDs 1, 2 and the latest 3rd installment are still available. Contact me for details taariq69@yahoo.co.in take a listen here. http://www.myspace.com/hassantaariq

This June 2011 single from Neon Bogart (alias Adam Rudegeair), Weightless is a postapocalyptic trip-hop love song. Featuring The Jane Austen Argument's Jen Kingwell on vocals, and Justin Ashworth on bass. We've released this new music to raise funds for our forthcoming European and US tour. So if you like the music, please purchase it to help us get there! Our single debuted at #5 of the international bandcamp charts, help us get to #1!

Learning Steve Sedergreen

Steve has just published a book on playing jazz piano, Start Playing Jazz Piano Now! Talk Steve into an autographed copy, you can contact him at his website www.stevesedergreen.com He also has classes you can participate in but hurry as they are restricted to 8 10 people.

MBAS
Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society www.mbas.org.au The Royal Standard Hotel 333 William Street, West Melbourne Featured artist 8.00 pm Jam Tuesdays 9.00-11.00pm

Other Items From Marek

Looking for people who want to play live, record, produce with me, promote my original compositions and create a fully professional high quality smooth jazz, Latin funk fusion stuff. Also, a good lyric writer to write own lyric to my original smooth jazz latin funk compositions and can record and perform with my band, Arachnids. I have a lots of my original compositions but they are only instrumental and need lyrics. Call me 9465 4545 mob 0402 432 918 Marek marekpodstawek@mail.com

Jazz links Jazz Scene

www.jazzscene.com.au

Jazz and Beyond

www.jazzandbeyond.com.au/festival.html

Melbourne Jazz Co-operative

Presenting presenting original jazz and improvised music since 1983.
www.mjc.org.au

Venues Dizzys Jazz Club

381 Burnley Street, Richmond 9428 1233
www.dizzys.com.au

La Niche
67 Smith Street Fitzroy 9416 3439

Treble Clef Jazz Lounge

17 Paynes Road, Chirnside Park 9739 6739 (free entry)

Kojo Brown Restaurant and Bar

294 Bridge Road, Richmond 9428 9800

Alliance Francaise
www.afmelbourne.asn.au/arts.html

Paris Cat
6 Goldie Place, Melbourne 9642 4711
www.pariscat.com.au

Bennetts Lane
25 Bennetts Lane, Melbourne 9663 2856
www.bennettslane.com