From Tokyo to Melbourne

[smokinhiro]

Hi everyone,

Nice forum! I'm enjoying reading your posts :>

Nice to meet you - I'm a Japanese jazz pianist/composer. I just came back from Dallas, TX where I spent 10 years. I'm planning to spend about a year in Melbourne starting this May. And reading about all the great aussie musicians like Mr. James Muller and Ms Andrea Keller (I'm sure there are many other wonderful musicians I still don't know about) is getting me excited about my brief-stay!

But what I'm needing help with is the insider's info like places to meet and get connected to other musicians in the area. So if you can help me out, I'd like to ask you:

If you were a new guy in the Melbourne music scene, where would you go to meet musicians? Any jam sessions?

I checked out Bennet's Lane on the web, and it seems real nice. Also the Victorian College of the Arts.. Is their jazz program big? I wonder if it's the focus of the school or it's overshadowed by the classical program (like happens in many other schools.. jazz is still the victim of the school politics in the US :<)

Anyhow, I'm very looking forward to strolling on the Melbourne streets! I would very much appreciate any insights to this lost lamb, and if you want to know about the jazz scene in Tokyo or Texas, I'm sure I can help you in return!

Kind regards,
Hiro ;D ;D ;D

"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right" - Henry Ford
www.hiromorozumi.com

[happy]

Hi hiro
sounds like you're on the right track. Depending on your tastes, you should also check out the Half Bent programme (recently posted on the forum, I think the link is http://www.halfbent.org) and the Tuesday night improvised music nights at Bar Open on Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

As for jam nights, I think Dizzy's jazz bar in Richmond has one at the moment. I'm not sure. Check out the EG section in the Age newspaper on Fridays.

have a great time

cheers
happy

[smokinhiro]

thank you happy-san!

i'll be sure to check out those places.. thanks for the info on the jam as well! right here in japan, jam sessions cost a lot (:<) but that's the way to connect with other musicians. in tokyo everyone lives in an apartment but i bet renting a house and sharing is popular in australia right? finding a rehearsal/jam space is a nightmare here!

many thanks,
hiro ;D

[vickihb2]

Moshi Moshi, Hiro welcome to the OJF.

Did you ever hook up with Belinda Moody (Australian bass player) based in Tokyo? She is working in Thailand at the moment on a long term contract.

Anyway you will find it very easy to meet great musicians in Melbourne there are so many of them. Here you will find high quality live contemporary improvised music almost every day somwhere. Many of these gigs are under 12 Australian dollars to get into (too cheap if you ask me, we undervalue our music artists in Melbourne).

I have only been to the jam session at Dizzy's a few times because I thought the the standard was poor. But it might have changed. A good way to meet musicians is to attend the Wangaratta Jazz festival in Oct/November, (3 hours drive from Melbourne or take the train). You will meet musicians and jazz fans from all over Australia and other countries as well. Hand out your card, say hello, everyone there is friendly except Danny Fischer (drummer) when he is in a bad mood!

There are two jam nights at the festival and the standard is usually not too bad. The cost for attending the festival 4 days of live music is under $150. Which again is too cheap if you ask me! There are free events, but you have to pay to see the good stuff.

The best jam club I have ever attended in Australia is the Side-On-Cafe in Sydney on Weds nights. I don't know if they still have it but that is usually very good. And the piano is usually in tune too. Extra bonus!

[vickihb2]

One more thing Hiro,

Please when you come to Melbourne will you teach all the musicians you meet how to set up their websites. Yours is one of the best I have seen. Fast, good navigation and up to date copy, and the menu bar is always on the top of the page!

Origato!

[smokinhiro]

Konnichiwa VickiHB,

Thank you for your encouraging messages! I do also appreciate your comment on my website although I think it needs more nourishment ;> I've actually been really impressed with all the Australian musicians' websites for their nice designs!

It's funny you mention Belinda because I had just found out about her and e-mailed her yesterday! Belinda happens to be a friend of my buddy from Texas who's now living in Japan - it's so fascinating that the musicians community this day and age has no borders! Belinda-san seems like an interesting person - she goes to so many different countries to play!

I had already read about Wangarrata Jazz fes - I'm so there! And 150 Aussie dollars? That's a bargain. Well Tokyo Blue Note charges like 100AUD for music, without drink or food one night. For only one set! I also read about the competition they sponsor at the festival. I think that's very healthy because it fosters the country's arts scene, and I think our country can learn a lot from your country on creating a better environment for the future of the national jazz scene. (well we've been criticized many times for lack of originality, although some of the youngsters are promising)

Thank you Vicki for all your helpful information. I'll print out this entire thread to take with me on my trip ;> I'm very excited already about going down under!

Douitashimashite,
Hiro

[Girly]

Hey Hiro

Belinda has a dog called Shiro!

(White) dog.

[smokinhiro]

rhymes with my name :>
shiro also means castle (lol)

btw, is there an auction site like e-bay that's popular in australia?? or do you folks use e-bay? just curious.

[me again]

ebay.com.au is in the top five sites visited in Australia. The others are google.com.au, ninemsn.com.au and
The Sydney Morning Herald is the most bookmarked.

Of course one of the most interesting websites to visit is

oxfam.org.au but that is only if you are a social justice junky. There is an Oxfam in Japan too but just starting out.

[smokinhiro]

hi again

thank you for the precious links :> I just thought for scoring music gear when i get there auction sites might come in handy!

i've been checking out a few australian musician websites, (and been highly impressed!!) but i'm sure i'm missing out a lot of other wonderful musicians out there. i want to get inspired more! so:

who are your favorite aussie jazz stars you can recommend i listen to??

sincerely,
hiro ;D

p.s. belinda just got back from singapore and e-mailed me back!

[bud]

matt mcmahon
phil slater
barney mccall
julien wilson
mark isaacs
mike nock
andrea keller
simon barker
sandy evans
bernie mcguire
felix Bloxom
john pochee
steve magnusson
will guthrie
joe chindamo
aaron ottigon
aaron choulai
scott tinkler
tim stevens
nick mcbride
eugene ball
phil rex
dave rex
jamie oehlers

2 many 2 name & they all \../,

[john b]

johnny says go to www.jazz.org.au

it is all in one place, and if ain't there then the artist ain't online or in the dark ages still

[smokinhiro]

thank you!

i started listening to some of those people you mentioned, and oh boy! there's some real great music :> and i went to jazz.org.au - it seems very informative. i'll need to set aside a day or two exploring the site ;>

everyone's totally been helpful to me here, and i'm very grateful. i'm sure my trip will be a very rewarding one!

sincerely,
hiro

[johnny]

Great jazz, bad sushi!

[smokinhiro]

bad sushi!!?? - oh..i'm sorrry! one secret of making great sushi is easing off on the pressure you add to the chunk of rice - i've found that to be the easiest way to make the whole sushi taste better, but so many people squeeze the rice till it's a candy!!

i'll need to have a sushi party and invite you all
which Melbourne japanese restaurant do you like??

hiro