Author Gavin Franklin

Gavin Franklin is a jazz pianist and educator who is currently a teacher in the Generations In Jazz Academy at Mt Gambier, S.A. He has written a treatise on the recorded improvisations of the American trumpeter, Woody Shaw.

Jazz Music Recording
Quirks. Steve Arié and the Arié Awards

Artist/s: Steve Arié and the Arié Awards. Steve Arié (alto sax/double bass), Paul Cutlan (bass clarinet), Abel Cross (double bass), Nic Cecire (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Artist release.
www.stevearie.com.au
Reviewed by

“After thirty years of performing and recording as a bass player, Steve Arié decided it was time to make a recording of his compositions playing alto saxophone. The outcome of this switch is heard on Quirks.”

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Big Band
Lush Life: A Tribute to Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. George Golla Orchestra

Artist/s: The George Golla Orchestra, including John Hoffman, Craig Scott, Len Barnard, James Morrison and George Golla.
Category: Big Band, Jazz
Label: ABC Jazz 0602508897580. Recorded 1986; re-released 2020 to celebrate George Golla’s 85th birthday
Reviewed by

“This album won the ARIA award for Jazz Album of the Year in 1987. It was re-released in May 2020, to coincide with George Golla’s 85th birthday.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Big Ears. By Delay 45

Artist/s: Delay 45. Tom Avgenicos (trumpet), Roshan Kumarage (piano), Dave Quinn (bass), Ashley Stoneham (drums)
Category: Jazz
Label: Static Records
Reviewed by

“The four members of Delay 45 have developed an approach to performing that is creative and individual…”

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Jazz Music Recording
Forever More. Nat Bartsch Sextet

Artist/s: Nat Bartsch Sextet. Nat Bartsch (piano), Robbie Melville (guitar), Xani Kolac (violin/effects), Anita Quayle (cello/effects), Tamara Murphy (double bass), Maddison Carter (drums)
Category: Jazz
Label: 2020 ABC Jazz 0888458
Reviewed by

“Setting out to compose a suite of ‘lullabies’, Bartsch has exceeded her aim.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Little Did They Know. Angela Davis and trio

Artist/s: Angela Davis (alto sax), Tony Gould (piano), Sam Anning (bass)
Category: Jazz
Label: 2019 Angela Davis Artist Release. Originally commissioned by ABC Jazz: Recorded, mixed and mastered at ABC Studios, Southbank, Victoria by Mal Stanley
Reviewed by

“This trio has developed a simple, honest and melodic style, seeking to make things as beautiful as possible.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Diggin’ Bones. Phillip Johnston and The Coolerators

Artist/s: The Coolerators. Phillip Johnston (composer/saxophones), Alister Spence (organ), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Nic Cecire (drums)
Category: Jazz
Label: Asynchronous Records,2018. Recorded and mixed at Rancom St Studios October/November 2017
Reviewed by

“The Coolerators obviously love their work and have had a great deal of fun.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Five Below Live. Andrea Keller and Five Below.

Artist/s: Five Below. Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Andrea Keller (piano), Sam Anning (double bass), Mick Meagher (electric bass), James McLean (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Keller compositions dating from 2002 onwards. Artist release 2018, recorded live at the Jazzlab in 2017
https://www.andreakellerpiano.com.au 
Reviewed by

”People who enjoy music that is intelligent and challenging should pay attention to anything that involves Andrea Keller.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Hothouse: Live 2018. Kevin Hunt Trio

Artist/s: Kevin Hunt Trio. Kevin Hunt (piano), Karl Dunnicliff (double bass) Dave Goodman (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Digital Album | ABC 0602508412141
Reviewed by

“The context of the studio has an important effect on the performance of the musicians on this recording.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Live at the Side On Café

Artist/s: Paul Cutlan’s Coltrane Project. Paul Cutlan (tenor saxophone/bass clarinet/Eb clarinet), Andrew Robson (alto saxophone), Adam Ponting (piano), Steve Elphick and Steve Arle (bass), Toby Hall (drums), plus, on Ascension only, Sandy Evans (tenor saxophone), Matthew Clare (alto saxophone), Phil Slater trumpet), Jeremy Borthwick (trombone)
Category: Jazz
Label: Digital, ABC Jazz 0602508122408
Reviewed by

“The Coltrane Project has performed periodically since 1997. This is its first recorded release. It combines respectful acknowledgement of Coltrane with original contributions by the players.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Jazz Chill

Artist/s: Compilation, various artists
Category: Jazz
Label: 2 CDs, ABC Jazz 772 3464
Reviewed by

“Jazz Chill is a compilation two-CD album of very good selections from the outputs of a range of Australian jazz musicians covering a thirty-year period.”

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Jazz Music Recording
The Adventures of Prince Achmed

Artist/s: Phillip Johnston (soprano saxophone), James Greening (trombone), Alister Spence (organ, keyboards), Casey Golden (organ, keyboards), Nic Cecire (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Asynchronous Records
Reviewed by

An album that crosses stylistic boundaries, The Adventures of Prince Achmed combines a variety of musical types ranging from rocky organ-based grooves and heavy back-beat (Aladdin’s Tale) to folk-like themes in canon (The African Magician).

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Jazz Music Recording
Through Her Eyes

Artist/s: Dan Barnett and band. Dan Barnett (voice/trombone), Cyril Bevan (drums), Peter Locke (piano), Chuck Morgan (guitar), Craig Scott (bass), Paul Furniss (sax/clarinet), Bill Burton (trumpet/flugelhorn), George Washingmachine (violin/voice), Anthony Howe (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Self-release. DB008
www.danbarnett.com.au
Reviewed by

Through Her Eyes is an album of mainstream jazz standards recorded by a group of well-known Australian musicians under the leadership of Dan Barnett.

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Big Band
Live at the Workers – Strictly Swingin’

Artist/s: Dan Barnett Big Band. 13-member big band led by Dan Barnett (vocals / trombone), and including Tim Clarkson, Nick Bowd, James Greening, Andrew Dickeson, Dave Theak, James Greening, Peter Locke.
Category: Big Band, Jazz
Label: Self-release DB009
Reviewed by

The overarching sense of the music is fun… the players sound like they are having as good a time as the listeners.

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Jazz Music Recording
Midnight Sun

Artist/s: George Washingmachine and Julie O’Hara. George Washingmachine (violin/vocals), Julie O’Hara (vocals), Stephen Grant (trumpet/piano), Andy Ross (bass/vocals), Ben Johnston (piano), Lyn Wallis (drums), Peter Baylor (guitar).
Category: Jazz, Vocal
Label: Newmarket NEW3226.2  
Reviewed by

“Veterans, vocalist Julie O’Hara and violinist George Washingmachine have assembled a band consisting of several other ‘notables’ to record a bunch of their favourites.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Innocent Dreamer

Artist/s: Jamie Oehlers (tenor saxophone), Tal Cohen (piano)
Category: Jazz
Label: Assembler S003
Reviewed by

“Every collaboration between these Australian artists is greeted with anticipation. Innocent Dreamer is another triumph for them.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Wednesdays at M’s

Artist/s: The Andy Sugg Group. Andy Sugg (leader/tenor saxophone), Kate Kelsey-Sugg (piano/voice), Christian Almiron (synthesizer), Sean Wayland (piano), Ben Eunson (guitar), Matt Clohesy (bass), (Nate Wood (drums)
Category: Jazz
Label: Self-release
Reviewed by

Prepared in New York’s Lower East Side, recorded in Brooklyn and mastered in Melbourne, Wednesdays at M’s is the result of a collaboration between expatriate Australians and New York musicians of wide experience who share a deep commitment to the generation of contemporary jazz.

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Jazz Music Recording
Shol

Artist/s: Shol. Christopher Skepper (trumpet/flugelhorn), Chris Pappas (tenor sax), Andrew Harrison (piano/keyboards), John O’Hagan (double bass), Chris Lewis (drums/percussion)
Category: Jazz
Label: Newmarket Music NEW3340.2
http://www.newmarketmusic.com
Reviewed by

“Shol is a Melbourne-based quintet whose members contribute compositions to the group’s repertoire. The result is a balanced variety of improvised music.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Gentle Giants

Artist/s: Tal Cohen (piano), Greg Osby (alto sax), Jamie Oehlers (tenor sax), Robert Hurst (bass), Nate Winn (drums).
Category: Jazz
Label: Inner Circle Music INCM 071CD
Reviewed by

Australian pianist and Freedman Fellow Tal Cohen is now based in the US and has made this fine recording with Perth colleague Jamie Oehlers and leading New York jazz players Greg Osby, Robert Hurst and Nate Winn. Subsequently, Osby invited Tal to join his band. The disc is great listening.

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Big Band Music Recording
Okay

Artist/s: James Muller and Sydney Conservatorium Jazz Orchestra (SCJO) directed by David Theak
Category: Big Band, Jazz, Music Recording
Label: 54 Records Production 01
Reviewed by

“In December 2015, virtuoso Australian guitarist James Muller was the brilliant featured soloist with the SCJO on a tour of the United States. This CD documents the music played on that significant tour.”

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Jazz Music Recording
Everybody Loves Somebody

Artist/s: Monique di Mattina. Monique di Mattina (vocals and piano), Eamon McNelis (trumpet), Paul Williamson (tenor sax and clarinet), Andrew Hammon (trombone), James Sherlock (guitar), Howard Cairns (bass), Andrew Swann and Marty Brown (drums and percussion)
Category: Jazz
Label: Jazzhead HEAD214
Reviewed by

“This is a CD that contains a mixture of old and new songs with an old-fashioned vibe.”

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