MJJ Oct 3, 2011 Sunday Arvo at the Lunatic Soup Kitchen Sunday arvo at the Lunatic Soup Kitchen

saw Landlord Glen in a particularly jovial mood, possibly due to the fact that the Grand Final free beer until the first goal was just that - ten seconds in, and only one beer poured. Hortense, as it turns out, would not have been disappointed, had she turned up. Which, one might assume, she did not. Hortense is rarely swayed by a beer, preferring, as she does, a thin red wine and a dash of scarlet lipstick in a darkened corner of the back bar. Friday 14 Oct is the last Jam on a Friday for this year Sundays as usual Poor Hortense, still hums Someday My Prints will Come, whilst the smart money went digital years ago . . . but I digress . . .Ah yes, the jam, now let's see. Started well enough with the usual suspects Col, Frank and Brian, joined shortly thereafter by meself, Al Papa Jazz and Jack the Lad. Aly (tenor sax) joined the Captain, and then Keef Michael Brecker (below) WCC sauntered in, as he does. Very good sauntering from Keef, we all thought, whilst Aly's friend/sister/complete bluddy stranger got up and sang My Funny Valentine and then the Eva Cassidy arrangement of Autumn Leaves. McCue played well until he fell for the old make-it-hard-for-thepiano-player trick, and got lumbered with You Don't Know What Love Is, played in entirely the wrong tempo by all concerned. You Don;'t Know What the Tune Is, played by all unconcerned, more like.Rob recovered by joining meself at the bar to contemplate the sight of four sets of feet tapping away, to four different beats. Music ranged from Naima (Coltrane) to When My Baby Walks Down the Street (tin pan alley). The Jazz was so good on the sticks, we had a struggle persuading Hirsh to take over, but eventually he conquered his nerves (hah!) and positively ripped through Bernie's Tune, One For My Father, and a coupla others.

Somewhere in the middle of all that, a young lady aged about 10 got up and played some confident solo piano. Precocious brat, disgustingly confident, quite good. Shouldn't be allowed. Then Noriyo from Kyoto (a city full of Jazz Bars and Temples, bit I digress) stepped up and played keys for fine renditions of Ipanema and Satin Doll, and will hopefully do so again. An entertaining afternoon, with an audience that stayed, drank and gossiped as they should, ended will the usual riotous assembly ripping out a fine version of Doxy then comprehensively murdering Route 66, We'll probably do it all again next week, only better, or worse, or backwards. My Funny Valentine, by the way, is no laughing matter. We didn't play Summertime and most of the other tunes weren't much better. There is nothing wrong with a jazz waltz chart that a box of matches couldn't fix. Captain Chaos could organise fours without total confusion resulting, but he prefers not to, and from an entertainment value standpoint, I think he is on to something. Catchya next week? TW from the editor If you dont know much about Michael Brecker you are probably not a sax player but at least you can read the article in this issue and by following up the references, listen on You Tube. On Thursday Joe Chindamo plays at Bennetts Lane and a couple of weeks later Yvette Johansson performs there. If you have not heard them recently, give yourself a treat and and go to Bennetts Lane to hear them. Arrived early at the jam on Sunday and was a bit surprised to see it going at full throttle. Should have checked the daylight saving thingo shouldnt I! Did anyone else or was I the only jammer out of time. Feedback or comments can be emailed to melbournejazzjammers@gmail.com Rob McCue 3 Oct 2011

Forgotten Jazz LP From Taariq: Hi, this week's forgotten jazz LP of the week is SOUL 69 by Aretha Franklin. The title is very misleading. The title says Soul 69. The record is actually a big band jazz vocals record. It is not the kind of soul music that made The Blues Brothers a popular film, or like Respect, the only song the GOLD FM crowd know of Aretha Franklin's. The LP has no hits which have been done to death on the radio so it is really good to listen to.

Friday at the Leinster When I got there I was the third pianist. It is ok for these windy blowers on horns and suchlike but there is not much room on keyboard for more than one pair of hands at a time. So I got one these great pizzas that the Leinster whips up and a light beer. Frank was on bass with Kevin on guitar and Col on sax. Somebody said the band was a bit loud so they played Softly. (sorry) Col has been playing the liquorice stick a bit lately and he is very good. Marion was on piano where she played Song for my Father in the correct rhythm which is unusual for a jammer. She switched to recorder and was later seen dancing with one of the patrons, but that is altogether another story. I got to eat and to play a bit was happy and left early so sorry if I have not mentioned you. Keith arrived as I was leaving. Some day I will get to play with you Keith! RM

Is Michael Brecker the most influential sax player since Coltrane?

(Michael Brecker 29 March 1949 to 13 January 2007) You dont have to have an opinion on the headline. Its not a competition. But whether Michael Brecker has been the most influential sax player since Coltrane or not, if you have not heard much of him he is definitely worth the time. Chances are you have already heard him anyway perhaps with Dire Straits, Steely Dan or Eric Clapton.

The Leinster Arms Hotel

66 Gold Street, Collingwood For dinner bookings phone 9417 5720

Early Career In his early career, Michael Brecker features on Paul Simons Still Crazy After All These Years (1975) and on James Taylors Dont Let Me Be Lonely Tonight (1972). He played a lot with rock bands and popular artists including Joni Mitchell, Average White Band, Lou Reed, Michael Franks and Aretha Franklin. Later Career In later years he played and recorded with Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, McCoy Tyner (who of course played with Coltrane), Chet Baker, Charles Mingus and Mike Nock. John Coltranes Naima was included in a live album by Michael Brecker titled Directions in Music which won a Grammy in 2003. The solo from this album can be heard at http://youtu.be/3j8tZjNsQe0 For the sax guys Brecker played a Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone. His playing of Coltranes Impressions with the very capable Rembrandt Frerichs Trio can be heard here. http://youtu.be/mn8bJQJc6vE Thirty-two bars with only two chords! These guys play a lot of notes that still seem varied, relevant and interesting as well as extremely exciting.

www.leinsterarms.com.au

Jam Sessions at the Leinster Arms Hotel Friday 7:00pm till late Sunday from 4pm

In an interview he talks about his influences, mainly Coltrane but also many others. The interview with Michael is available here. http://youtu.be/rK5OOmNajOI For everything you never needed to know about Michael Brecker visit Louis Gerrits site at http://michaelbreckerliverecordings.com/

From John Perri: a funny one for you all http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=GFbSHWBjuuQ

From Suiti at Dizzys: Hi Rob, Just letting you know that Dizzy's Jazz Club are starting up a Jam Session from October. They will be held every Saturday late afternoon from 4-7pm. Each week, the jam session will be in tribute to famous jazz artists who have passed. Dizzys Jazz Club, 381 Burnley Street, Richmond, Vic. ph 9428 1233 www.dizzys.com.au

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.

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