I was taking a walk with my son, the other day, and as we were getting close to the park, we stopped to look at the local Spoonville. I had not been there since the first wooden spoons were planted on the ground, and I was surprised to see it having grown so much: dozens, almost a hundred of them, painted in bright colours, others with glued features and googly eyes, forming this strange, funny community of kitchen utensils. And at that moment it just dawned on me: these spoonvilles, scattered around gardens and parks and nature strips around Melbourne during lockdown, are much more than kid’s ..read more

I never really got my head around the idea of celebrating a deceased person’s birthday, but today it was different. Today I woke up and checked my mailbox as usual and there, among the flood of newsletters and spam and social media notifications and promotional messages practically begging for me to press ‘unsubscribe’, there were two subject lines that stood out, setting the tone of the day: “Happy 100 Birthday, Charlie Parker!” exclaimed JAZZIZ; “Celebrating 100 years of Charlie Parker” cheered Louder, the New York Times’ music-centred newsletter, while the Jazz Times magazine focused on ‘Ch ..read more

Ingrid James has a new album out; it’s called Midnight Sun, from the Lionel Hampton tune. It is a collaboration with two great jazz musicians from the Czech Republic, Libor Smoldas (guitar) and Jakub Zomer (organ). The three of them have been working together for years, both in Prague and in Australia — they last toured together in 2020, before COVID came to the country. Two years — and a few lockdowns — later, they are touring the country again, promoting the product of that last collaboration. When I was asked to put to words my thoughts and feelings about the music they created together for ..read more

I didn’t come up with this title. I ‘stole’ it from musician and educator Andrew Bishop, who made this statement commenting on a facebook post of my newest friend (and new favourite jazz writer), Michelle Mercer. It is a phrase that best sums up and expresses the thoughts and feelings I’ve been having for quite sometime now, at least since I had the honour of featuring such luminaries as Roxy Coss and Shannon Barnett in this website. Women are the future of jazz. I’ve been following the public debate on the experience of (most) women in jazz and I know how male-dominated the scene can be – and ..read more

This project first began in 2015 not long after I had returned to live in my home town, St Kilda. In between living overseas and interstate, I’ve had 14 addresses in and around St Kilda since 1984 and have always been fascinated by its diverse architecture and cultural heritage. When I started exploring the history of the grand 19th century Esplanade Hotel with its sweeping views of Port Phillip Bay, I found it had a long, diverse history of live music dating back to 1920, when a new style of music called ‘jazz’ was attracting huge crowds. St Kilda once had a big reputation as a live music des ..read more

Yes. Bennetts Lane closed. Yes. It is open. It’s not a postmodern conundrum, don’t lose faith in the media (maybe a little). Time and the agents of change haven’t colluded to confuse you. Bennetts Lane Jazz Club closed and reopened, old but new, new but old. The question still lingers over a year after the re-opening; “Didn’t you close..?” To wonder about the gravity of the loss, the rich tapestry of its history, is to be lit by a community of mind that reflects on the multitude of contributions made by musicians, staff and audiences to the making of Bennetts Lane Jazz Club. The creation of a ..read more

You can always count on Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah to set big, bold, ambitious goals. The fiery trumpeter has just released a new song,AvengHer, which claims to do just that: start a discussion within the jazz world. And if the level of the man’s bold ambitions is not clear, the tune – it has to be said – is a preview of his upcoming release, titled ‘The Emancipation Procrastination‘; which is part of a trilogy of albums, all released within 2017; which follows his 2015 manifesto ‘Stretch music‘; which is how he calls his music now, turning his back on the term ‘jazz’. Yes, Christian Scott ..read more

After the ‘Mother’s day’ overload, it feels a little strange, not being bombarded with ‘mother’s day gift ideas’ every single time you turn the tv on, or you walk into a supermarket; but I guess we’ll manage. I’ve been trying to avoid the subject but then, out of coincidence – if there is such thing as coincedence – I run into a Charles Mingus tune, bearing one of the most brilliant titles in the history of song titles: All The Things You Could Be By Now If Sigmund Freud’s Wife Was Your Mother Amen. Then I remembered another jazz legend, one that I had the pleasure to see live, Cedar Walton ..read more

Being a Greek expat in Australia, I have often found myself (a) succumbing to nostalgia (often taking the shape of a souvlaki, the sound of an old Greek song etc.) and (b) becoming a champion for the introduction of Greek jazz and improvised music to my new friends here. Both urges were triggered by the news of Savina Yannatou coming to perform in Australia. A truly magnificent singer, with an awe-inspiring vocal ability, she has been one of the most creative artists in the Greek music scene for the past 40 years. And although she may not be a household name, even in Greece, she has gained ac ..read more

“So, what’s new with Australian Jazz .net?” I can almost hear you ask. A lot and not much, at the same time. Setting up an online hub for the broader jazz community, for one thing. Trying to keep things going, after the departure of Miriam Zolin, the site’s founder, editor, inspired and inspiring leader. Not posting much, unfortunately, but that is about to change. John Hardaker’s contribution has been immensely helpful, while I’m trying to figure out things, not only regarding the site, but also the state of jazz in Australia – and even Australia, as a whole. It’s all new to me. About a year ..read more