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.

Music Recording

Divide and Conquer. Johannes Luebbers Dectet

Category:Big Band, Jazz

Artist(s): Johannes Luebbers Dectet. Johannes Luebbers (composer/conductor), Emily Thomas (flute), Ben Opie (oboe), Angela Davis (alto sax/clarinet), Michael Wallace (tenor sax/clarinet), Paul Williamson (trumpet), Nicole Dixon (French horn), Andrew Murray (trombone), Andrea Keller (piano), Hiroki Hoshino (bass), Aaron McCoullough (drums)

Label: Earshift Records EAR056 dist. MGM. CD, DL, streaming. 2021

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“Each track grabs attention and demands to be heard with full focus.”

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Music Recording

Beautiful World. Frances Madden

Category:Jazz, Vocal

Artist(s): Frances Madden (vocals/piano/Hammond C3/keyboard), Carl Dewhurst (guitars), Phil Stack (double bass), Tim Firth (drums), Harriett Allcroft (backing vocals), Ian Cooper (strings), Karl Laskowski (tenor saxophone), Ray Cassar (trumpet)

Label: Jazz, Vocal Music Digital and CD, 2020 ABC 085 8752 Recorded in January (Melbourne) and December (Sydney) 2018

Digital and CD, 2020 ABC 085 8752 Recorded in January (Melbourne) and December (Sydney) 2018

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“Frances Madden is not only a composer and singer of wonderful songs; she can play keyboards too.”

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Music Recording

The Glider. Nick Garbett and Mike Majkowski

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Nick Garbett (trumpet), Mike Majkowski (bass and synthesisers), Johannes Schleiermacher (saxophones), Steve Heather (drums and percussion), Tony Buck (drums), Finn Ryan (drums), Matt Smith(guitar)

Label: LP, digital, Banksia Records BR001 Recorded 2019

www.banksiarecords.com

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“A meditation on colour, texture and rhythm, with musical landscapes and electronic flourishes reminiscent of Jon Hassell and Brian Eno’s Fourth World.”

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Music Recording

Out of This World. Nock, Stuart, Wilson, Zwartz

Category:Jazz

Artist(s):  Mike Nock (piano), Hamish Stuart (drums), Julien Wilson (saxophone), Jonathan Zwartz (bass).

Label: ABC Jazz Digital only, ABC Jazz. Fresh Start Commission

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“No matter how extensive a listener’s experience of jazz, the music on Out of This World wraps its arms around them and transports them to a welcoming place.”

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Music Recording

Wangaratta. Viklický/Bukovský /Mackey

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Emil Viklický (piano), Miroslav Bukovský (trumpet/flugelhorn), John Mackey (saxophone).

Label: ABC Jazz. Recorded 2018

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“The playing on this album bristles with musical language and techniques drawn from lifelong studies and experience of performance on their respective instruments.”

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Music Recording

This Autumn Year. Tim Stevens and Shelley Scown

Category:Jazz, Vocal

Artist(s): Tim Stevens (piano), Shelley Scown (voice)

Label: Artist release August, 2018, digital. Recorded at ABC Studios Southbank, February 2000

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“Those who already know Tim Stevens’s work will be delighted by this release. Shelley Scown’s many fans from way back will be reminded that they miss her.”

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Music Recording

Quirks. Steve Arié and the Arié Awards

Category:Jazz

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).

Label: Artist release.

www.stevearie.com.au

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“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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Music Recording

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

Category:Big Band, Jazz

Artist(s): The George Golla Orchestra, including John Hoffman, Craig Scott, Len Barnard, James Morrison and George Golla.

Label: ABC Jazz 0602508897580. Recorded 1986; re-released 2020 to celebrate George Golla’s 85th birthday

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“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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Music Recording

Big Ears. By Delay 45

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Delay 45. Tom Avgenicos (trumpet), Roshan Kumarage (piano), Dave Quinn (bass), Ashley Stoneham (drums)

Label: Static Records

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Forever More. Nat Bartsch Sextet

Category:Jazz

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)

Label: 2020 ABC Jazz 0888458

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Little Did They Know. Angela Davis and trio

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Angela Davis (alto sax), Tony Gould (piano), Sam Anning (bass)

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: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Diggin’ Bones. Phillip Johnston and The Coolerators

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): The Coolerators. Phillip Johnston (composer/saxophones), Alister Spence (organ), Lloyd Swanton (bass) and Nic Cecire (drums)

Label: Asynchronous Records,2018. Recorded and mixed at Rancom St Studios October/November 2017

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Five Below Live. Andrea Keller and Five Below.

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Five Below. Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Andrea Keller (piano), Sam Anning (double bass), Mick Meagher (electric bass), James McLean (drums).

Label: Keller compositions dating from 2002 onwards. Artist release 2018, recorded live at the Jazzlab in 2017

https://www.andreakellerpiano.com.au 

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Hothouse: Live 2018. Kevin Hunt Trio

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Kevin Hunt Trio. Kevin Hunt (piano), Karl Dunnicliff (double bass) Dave Goodman (drums).

Label: Digital Album | ABC 0602508412141

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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

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Music Recording

Live at the Side On Café

Category:Jazz

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)

Label: Digital, ABC Jazz 0602508122408

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“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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Music Recording

Jazz Chill

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Compilation, various artists

Label: 2 CDs, ABC Jazz 772 3464

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“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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Music Recording

The Adventures of Prince Achmed

Category:Jazz

Artist(s): Phillip Johnston (soprano saxophone), James Greening (trombone), Alister Spence (organ, keyboards), Casey Golden (organ, keyboards), Nic Cecire (drums).

Label: Asynchronous Records

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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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Music Recording

Through Her Eyes

Category:Jazz

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).

Label: Self-release. DB008

www.danbarnett.com.au

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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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Music Recording

Live at the Workers – Strictly Swingin’

Category:Big Band, Jazz

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.

Label: Self-release DB009

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

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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Music Recording

Midnight Sun

Category:Jazz, Vocal

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).

Label: Newmarket NEW3226.2  

Reviewed by: Gavin Franklin

“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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