New jazz festival for Brisbane Feb 10-12

[Kenny]

Posted by Jimmy James at AAJ's Australian Jazz Korner yesterday:

Last weekend I went to the Brisbane Powerhouse jazz festival, and what a weekend it was. Organised by mark issac's, saturday night featured the james muller trio and sunday night was the amazing Tinkler Rex Grabowski Edie Quartet.

James muller is a freak, mind-boggling mastery of the instrument. Seriously he's one of the best guitarists (or improvisers) in the world...forget about only australia. REDICULOUS chops, one of the fastest guitarists ive heard, genius lines both flowing or jarring (in a good way) extreemily complex harmonic process, but all this with amazing feel and tone.. He really knows the instrument like no other guitarist ive seen and feels it. His blues/rocky basic pentatonic licks were so tasty it was like butter too....just an absolute master with innovative compositions and a varies pallete. he can swing his ass off, funks off, rocks out (litterally) and ewven does some country.....a life changing evening for my guitar playing...Bassist brett hurst has the biggest ears in the world. And drummer Felix Bloxom is a force to reckoned with...crazzy playing but with matuirty and he only looks like hes in his mid 20s.

Sunday night was a seriously out-there night of improvisation and creativity....I dont think i need to go on too much about all the players coz their names speak for themselves....Scott is brilliant, absolutely brilliant, like james muller hes a master of his instrument. Paul is doing things ive never heard a piano do before. Phillip Rex is a monster, so fast and on a tree! wow and to be able to play with a guy like ken edie....the most 'out there' drummer ive really heard. Just a beautiful swirls of polyrhythms. This was very avant guard jazz and many people left during the performance. Talking to Scott was massive learning curve too.

I can't wait till James Muller's two new albums come out (one with USA drummer Bill Stewart!) Hopefully with them he'll get some international exposure that he deserves.

[able or Inadeqate]

Yes the question is "who makes a living playing music" I suppose this could extend into recording sessions and CD sales as well as Live performances. But It didnt specifically target Jazz .The Issue was raised to bring out Ideas on just what is noble or "sell out" and whether There was some status distinction between Full-time professionals and Part time Teacher-professionals.

Is a teacher more noble than a "Work Horse" musician I know society thinks so.

Does some of what Joe Camilleri plays constitute Jazz (or Improvised music).

So tinky,and I am grateful for your discerning style of debate ,do you ever Compromise YOUR Art?

[ds]

awesome gigs - i went to saturday and sunday and had great seats. the general atmosphere around the bar on saturday was good too - lots of people out. pity that crowd isn't replicated at most other jazz gigs around here.

good one mr isaacs

[tinky]

Actually, not many people walked out of my gig, at least not as many as I thought might. Only 2 left in the first set and then towards the end of the second ears got tired and about half a doz snuck out, pretty good really.
As far as compromising my art goes it depends on how you use the word really. I definately have to do a variety of gigs but I try to play the music in the "Tinky" way, maybe thats why I don't get too many. Most of the time people employ me to play the way I play which makes it easier. One thing for sure, when I'm playing with my band I make no compromises at all.

[aj]

Other than keeping your trousers on (these days).

[tinky]

Thats one art I had to compromise,

[betty]

how come u know so much bout tinks trousers aj? r u his girlfriend?

[aj]

Come on, EVERYBODY's seen Tinky drop 'em.............he's settled down a bit now, but it used to be a common event.

[shaggaz]

yeah now he's turned to trying to get piano players to drop theirs... with a bit of help. what was the italian stallion's reaction tinks?

[aka]

aj said:

Come on, EVERYBODY's seen Tinky drop 'em.............he's settled down a bit now, but it used to be a common event.

Last time I saw ST at Bennett's he pulled out the old todger......still in form....

[isaacs]

Just to take the conversation re Scott back up a notch for a sec. I don't think a few people walking out of his gig, especially near the end, means they hated the music. Maybe they liked it but had heard enough. If you order something in a restaurant that's particularly rich or spicy or whatever and they serve it in a generous quantity you may like it heaps but not be able to finish it. Just because you leave a fifth of it on your plate doesn't mean you hated it.

Scott's gig finished with rousing cheers by the way.

[tinky]

Thanks Mark.

Gotta say it was a very good weekend and hope it happens many more times.

One comment that I would pass on is that some that saw my gig actually thought it to be more accessible than more straight ahead jazz. This may be because of the rate of change and the fact that there is so much going on that it is quite entertaining. This comment was of course aimed at those that are not so familiar with the tradition and are not so much prepared for a certain result. An axample for me was my aunty and cousin, who are both musicians, both well educated in classical repertoire and history. I fully expected them to not be there by the end ( or even half time) but I spoke to them after and they were enthralled. They particularly loved Kens playing praising his energy and exploration of colour.
It was one of those positive moments for me, they come rarely.

[jimmyjames]

it was interesting to hear you thought the first set was dogshit, while i was speechless in the first set! the second set was a bit better though.

[tinky]

who you been talking to Jimmy?

[jimmyjames]

You probably cant remember me, but i spoke to you after the show, with james sherlock introducing me to you (im a student of his) Maybe my choise of words (dogshit) was a bit of an overstatement, and I apologise. But you were talking about how you felt the band wasnt as in the pocket in the first set, that you needed to play a stronger (i think you said more obvious??) role in the second set. Or something like this. I cant remember the exact words. While i was completely blown away by both sets, i can agree that the second set was a little bit more inspirational.

That gig really blew me away man, is there any other plans for you to play in QLD/northern NSW? If so im there!

Another thing, i was hoping i could buy the bands new CD at the festival, but i couldnt find it for sale there. I havent been able to find in any QLD music stores (go figure,,,) so where can i get it?