Tag: jazz
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Creatures of the Half Sleep – John Reeves Trio
Step into the world of jazz pianist John Reeves, who is releasing his first CD ‘Creatures of the Half Sleep’, a collection of original compositions arranged for accordion! Here, we geek out over his beautiful instrument, and his journey with it so far. The John Reeves Trio has Helen Svoboda on double bass and Aaron […]
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Valtozash Brisbane Review @ Crowbar
My take on this fabulous metal-jazz big band, originally published in Scenestr. http://scenestr.com.au/music/valtozash-brisbane-review-crowbar-20171221 Valtozash, Brisbane’s 17-piece jazz-metal big band, headlined X-Mess II at Crowbar in Fortitude Valley (20 December). They crammed onto the stage and brutalised us with an onslaught of their very, very loud, maniacal humour. Bandleader Andre Bonetti said: “We are the largest […]
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Iron Maiden Voyage, Valtozash EP review
In the late eighties, my mind was shot to pieces by the maniacal brilliance of a group of London jazz musicians called Loose Tubes, under the mirthful goading of their band leader, enfant terrible Django Bates. Today, I am listening to Iron Maiden Voyage, the new EP by metal jazz big band Valtozash, and am […]
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Chris Poulsen Trio at Brisbane Jazz Club
[Originally published in Scenestr] How sweet it was to be blown away by the sheer exuberance of the Chris Poulsen Trio on Friday (June 17) at the Brisbane Jazz Club. With Poulsen on keyboards/synth, Jeremy O’Connor on electric bass and ukulele bass, and Dan Smith on drums, these musicians delivered a stellar night to a […]
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Jazz metal heads Valtozash at BJC
Originally published in Scenestr. Valtozash Bigband appeared at the Brisbane Jazz Club (8 April) as Gregorian monks, on a smoky stage set against the magnificent city skyline. They opened the first set with a metal take on Herbie Hancock’s jazz standard ‘Maiden Voyage’. Valtozash played ‘Iron Maiden Voyage’ with a canon fire of the signature […]
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Joe Fritz and his All Stars at BJC
Hungarian clarinettist Joe Fritz’s tone is the cream on an Irish coffee in winter. He plays melodies which weave in-and-out and break your heart with their unpredictable prettiness. He was at the Brisbane Jazz Club playing the music of Benny Goodman, Woody Herman, and plenty of driving, straight-ahead jazz. His sidemen were sublime. A tight […]
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Glorious chaos: Valtozash at BJC
Their horns assault you with a stabbing dissonance. An electric guitar invades your mind with frenzied brilliance, then wails like a banshee. Bass guitar and drums build that sound of despair, the relentless thudding eventually impales your heart. If you survive all that you’ll be going, “Oh my god! It’s metal! Valtozash Big Band is […]
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Jeff Usher, jazz pianist
Everyone has heroes. Jazz pianist Jeff Usher’s is the maverick genius Thelonious Monk. The uncompromising quirkiness of Monk’s music just blew Usher away. “It was his personality,” said Brisbane-based Usher. “When Monk played, it sounded like he was having a great laugh at everybody, because of those harmonies of his. It sounded like he was […]
