What's on: Live Jazz in Canberra - November and December 1997, with Tony Magee

For the rest of the year, Canberrans have rather a wonderful choice of live jazz ranging from local, national and international concert presentations to the less formal settings of music in bars and restaurants.

The Canberra Southern Cross Club's remaining jazz program features, on the 6th November, The Catholics. Numbering seven musicians, they are described as innovative, daring and exciting, and are looking to bring what they perceive as a fresh and energetic approach to jazz. The group was loudly acclaimed by packed audiences on their recent tour of Europe. One of their hallmarks if the use of the distinctive sounds of the pedal steel guitar.

On November 27th, audiences can see The Three Sedergreens - father Bob Sedergreen (piano and keyboards) with sons Stephen (piano) and Malcolm (sax) together with four more jazz musicians. Described as a evening of great music and entertaining jazz with good humour. Bookings for either of these two Southern Cross Concerts can be made on 6283 7288.

Gypsy Bar and Brasserie with present The Vocal Jazz Ensemble from the Canberra School of Music on Tuesday 11th November at 8pm. Numbering twelve singers and a rhythm section of three, the group will present an evening of rich jazz vocal harmonies in the tradition of groups such as Manhattan Transfer, Singers Unlimited and Brazil 66. The original Vocal Jazz Ensemble was formed in 1985 by Gery Scott, who remains director of the group today.

Back Benches Restaurant at Old Parliament House features jazz trios on Friday evenings from 5pm - 8pm and jazz duos on Saturdays from 1pm - 5pm. Featured artists include singers Ra Khahn and Nick Begbie, alto saxophonist Andrew Hackwill, and guitarist Greg Stott.

Originally published in Muse Magazine (Canberra), November 1997 

Review: "COMBO FIASCO" AT The School of Arts Cafe, October 16 1997. Reviewed by Tony Magee

From the catchy opening featuring High Society's Swell Party, suitably spiced with up-to-date political witticisms, through an outstanding and hilarious ten minute Phantom, to the concluding Fats Waller medley, the performers who are Combo Fiasco entranced the packed Thursday night audience with laughter, poignancy, sadness, joys...

The performers were pianist and singer Tony McGill, pianist and singer Shaun Murphy and actress and singer Sharon Millerchip. The three met whilst performing in the Melbourne production of Phantom Of the Opera. It's one of those rare moments in showbussiness, when a group of performers suddenly find that they "click" together and wham - something extraordinary is born. 

Some particular highlights for me were a superb arrangement of Cy Coleman's The Rhythm of Life which highlighted the group's excellent sense of harmonic balance and dynamic range, a wonderful Kander and Ebb duo featuring the songs Sometimes a Day Goes By and Marry Me and of course the amazing condensed version of Phantom which I mentioned earlier and which still evokes a spontaneous chuckle through the day.

Each of the three performers also chose songs for individual performance and in particular, Shaun Murphy's version's of Leon Russell's Superstar and These Are the Games People Play from Falsetto's were outstanding. Shaun's tenor voice has a huge dynamic range - something that he uses most intelligently by his sparing and therefore highly effective use of triple forte.

Sharon sang an effective and moving rendition of Randy Crawford's Almars, whilst Tony McGill opted for amusing, anecdotal trifles in pieces such as The Waiter, the Porter and the Upstairs Maid.

In a week where I've also seen an outstanding preview of a show featuring all original material, Combo Fiasco's eclectic offering of non-original material shone very brightly indeed. A more entertaining evening, you'll be hard pressed to find.

Originally published in Muse Magazine (Canberra), November 1997