A distinctive presence

[timothystevens]

Ladies and gentlemen,

If you happen to be at a loose end in Melbourne this coming Sunday night, why not mosey on down to Bennetts Lane and hear my band, Tim Stevens Trio, playing what will probably be our only remaining gig for the year? The writeup bills us as 'a distinctive presence on the Australian improvised music scene', but of course that's open to question. In sooth, how distinctive is it possible to be when one is hardly present? Because let's face it, if it weren't for the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative, which is very kindly presenting us, we should probably not play at all. Still, best not to let bitterness get the better of us. (Goodness, what a poetic sentence. Read it again.) We'll be there, playing original music and having a nice time, and as always we'd love to see you. And you.

$12 and $9, Bennetts o'clock.

[isaacs]

Have a wonderful night Tim.

"Best not to let bitterness get the better of us" is beautiful and original (Google it in quotes. It ain't be said in print before now)

May you have a plenitude of such thoughts.

[alimcg]

Surely better to have a distinctive presence on the scene than be a blight on it. The first time I saw your trio, it wasn't. It must have been about 5 years ago now, and it was just you and Dave. That's distinct.

[gator]

I'd argue that the rarity of your performances contribute to their distinctiveness Tim - as does the music itself... whilst you (and I ) would surely wish to be performing more, and 'distinctive' has that wonderfully aussie sense of 'different -awaiting majority approval' about it, keep doing what you do - I'll be there Sunday..

[jamie]

Hi Tim, all the best for Sunday...I won't be in town, so will unfortunately not be able to make it. Just a question though, and this should probably be another thread, but why is it that you aren't you playing more? Surely someone of you ability and stature could hussle up some gigs? There has been some really good OZ tours in the last couple of years that I believe have really opened up the ability to travel and play (and even make some money!?). I did one last year that took in WA, QLD, NSW, ACT, SA and VIC, and Ben Winkelman just finished a tour that looked fantastic. Of course there is still the necessary hard yakka needed in applying for funding, spending hours on the computer researching and then trying to piece it together, but it is certainly achievable. As far as Melbourne goes, there are loads of places to play. You might not make heaps of money, but you will get to play....

[timothystevens]

You're absolutely right, and I've really only got myself to blame. I'm fussy about pianos, and can't feel comfortable doing our original stuff on the electric. (I hate it!) I'd love to tour and plan to at some stage but just at the moment with young kids I can't see it as manageable (I look after them for most of the week, through both choice and expediency.) I was really impressed by the programs of both your and Ben's tours, and perhaps in a couple of albums' time I'll work to pull something like that together. At the moment though it's a couple of shows a year. Perhaps, as Gate says, they're precious for their rarity. Either way, I'm not getting too wound up about it. Thanks for the kind wishes, all.

[captain]

Good pianos are certainly one big drawback with the national touring. We totally gave up on the digital 'pianos' and now have accordion if there's no (functional) piano. Thanks to Anthony Schulz and Steve Grant for proving how great Jazz accordion can be.

[bodgey]

Yep, accordion is the way to go.
I'd take up bandoneon if i could go back to age 3 and start over...

Digital pianos are the bane of a pianist's existence.

There are some nice pianos around the country in hidden spots though, if you're willing to hunt. I'm sure I haven't discovered even 1/50th of them yet. Well, hopfeully.

[Gb]

i guess you got home alive then bodg?

[bodgey]

Absolutely, and with much hilarity.