The Newsletter of Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club April 2017 Editor: Roy McKeen QSFTFOUT. 45"33*/( 5)& Peter Uppman Band '&"563*/(

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1 Improvisations The Newsletter of Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club April 2017 Editor: Roy McKeen QSFTFOUT 45"33*/( 5)& Peter Uppman Band '&"563*/( 5%166 /# %#.5 CPF 6JG #PFTGYU 5KUVGTU 6TKDWVG $CPF 5IF TPVOET PG UIF HSFBU TXJOH FSB (4+&#; #24+. JO UIF 6OJUFE 4UBUFT GFBUVSJOH UIF NVTJD PG (MFOO.JMMFS UIF "OESFXT 2CTCFKUG 4JTUFST #FOOZ (PPENBO "SUJF 4IBX 5JQY 4QQO 5PNNZ %PSTFZ BOE UIF TPOHT PG Members $25 4JOBUSB 5POZ #FOOFUU &MMB Visitors $30 1FHHZ -FF BOE +VMJF -POEPO $CT $KUVTQ QRGP RO 5JQYVKOG RO $QQMKPIU

2 Legend has it that the Swing Era started at the Palomar Ballroom in Pasadena, California in August The Benny Goodman Orchestra had come to the end of a coast-to-coast tour which had been a disaster. Goodman decided to throw caution to the winds and let rip with a series of blow your head off numbers that sent the young audience completely wild. When he brought his orchestra to New York s Paramount Theatre the kids were dancing in the aisles. Not long after that a skinny, youngster from Hoboken, New York had the girls swooning and the term bobbysoxer was born. SWING TIME AMERICA celebrates the Swing Era with a selection of songs / instrumentals made famous by Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra and The Andrews Sisters and as well as let-it-rip numbers there will be sweet, romantic ballads. Bring your dancing shoes! We re going to rip-it-up! The Andrews Sisters Tribute Band will sing some of the songs made famous during the Swing Era including old favourites like Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy & Rum & Coca Cola. Scott Martin will be Swing Time America s heart throb!

3 Bob Mair Caxton Street Jazz Band Band Leader / Drummer Bob Mair was the drummer and joint leader of the Caxton Street Jazz Band, along with his beloved partner, Bernice. He was one of the first members of the original band started by Andy Jenner in 1977 and has been the driving force of the band for many years. Always a fastidious organiser and passionate promoter of the band Bob, worked extremely hard to ensure everything ran smoothly. He had great musical integrity and was passionate about the music the band played, always striving to create quality jazz that could be appreciated by jazz fans and the general public at large. Caxton Street Jazz Band has gained a reputation over the years for its tight, hot sound and this is largely due to Bob and Bernice's dedication and persistence. Bob spent his early life in Adelaide and his interest in jazz and drumming started in his teens. He attended Adelaide University where his interest in jazz blossomed and he was involved in two bands - one playing twobeat traditional and the other a quartet playing Mulligan style bebop. On graduating from University and pursuing a career in IT which led to him living in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and finally Brisbane, he played only occasionally. His interest in playing was revived in the 1970s when he became the first percussionist in the Caxton Street Jazz Band. In 2000 Bob toured Germany with Hot Gossip Jazz Band and was also a member of the 1980s San Francisco Revival Band, The New Yerba Buena Jazz Band. The Jazz Action Society Gold Coast (now trading as Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club) was formed in 1985 and over the past thirty one years Caxton Street Jazz Band has played many gigs at our club, more than any other other band or entertainer. Whenever I booked Caxton Street for our club I always found Bob to be friendly and cooperative and inevitably everything ran smoothly. One of my best memories of Bob is the night he was playing the washboard in the Paradise Showroom when the washboard slowly disintegrated and fell about his feet but Bob grinned a big grin and kept on playing till the end of the number which was greeted with a huge round of applause and laughter! Bob Mair died of cancer on 18 February. A wake was held in the Brisbane Jazz Club and there were over 150 there to say goodbye in traditional jazz style with music and memories and the usual liquid refreshment.. Caxton Street Jazz Band will continue with a new drummer and will celebrate its 40th birthday later this year. Bob will be sorely missed by Bernice, by his family, his friends in the jazz fraternity, by the members of Caxton Street Jazz Band to all of whom we extend our sympathy. Roy McKeen Imm. Past President Editor

4 We have been spoilt! During the Emma Pask gig a gentleman whispered in my ear world class entertainment. And it was! You wouldn t find anything better in Las Vegas! More riches to come Ruby Page on 12 May and Brad Leaver singing Sinatra on 9th June. Mmmmmmm!

5 Emma Pask & Trio Friday 17 March 2017 When James Morrison discovered a girl singing with a High School band in Sydney and a week later invited her to tour overseas with his accomplished band, Emma Pask probably never envisaged the broad career she has enjoyed since that day. Friday night was a superb performance from both singer and her fabulous trio who travelled to The Arts Centre Gold Coast with her. They opened with an up-tempo number SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE which featured Emma s superb scat singing and an equally impressive performance from jazz pianist-composer Kevin Hunt. Bassist Brett Hirst also featured prominently in this opening number. The next song DEVIL MAY CARE featured the most complex lyrics delivered fast and furiously which highlighted Emma Pask s superb diction. Each word so clearly understood despite the pace of delivery. Again, bassist and pianist were outstanding. The song also featured the impressive range of both high and very low notes this would not be an easy arrangement to sing. MAS QUE NADA, made famous by Sergio Mendez and his band was next on the program and was the introduction to the Latin influence on the evening s repertoire. Emma entertained the audience with personal details including those of her recent marriage to her Latino husband from Uruguay. Like any new bride she recalled her first nervous introduction to his family, many of whom spoke no English. She recalled with pride singing PERHAPS, PERHAPS, PERHAPS (QUIZAS, QUIZAS, QUIZAS) on Skype to her new mother-in-law. Emma has a wonderfully warm stage presence and her anecdotes made it a warm and intimate evening between performer and audience.the next arrangement was a complete break from what had gone before when the group presented the beautiful Lennon and McCartney composition, HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE which delighted the audience with its haunting lyrics and melody. The popular Fats Waller composition, HONEYSUCKLE ROSE, upped the tempo again and had the audience tapping and clapping and got us ready for the next smashing performance of that naughty, rollicking song, HARD HEARTED HANNAH (the vamp from Savannah) which Emma belted out with gusto. Jerome Kern s THE WAY YOU LOOK TONIGHT started off traditionally and slowly, b u t E m m a P a s k s o o n p u t h e r o w n interpretation on it and gave the audience another treat with scat improvisation to reveal the versatility in that wonderful voice. Next came a wonderful duo with just pianist and voice when they presented a beautiful song, DREAM OF LIFE, composed by that fabulous jazz singer Carmen McRae. We didn t know what to expect when the next L a t i n c o m p o s i t i o n w a s a n n o u n c e d, CRICKETS SING FOR ANNA MARIA. This Latin composition was a perfect vehicle to showcase Emma s vocal virtuosity and because of extraordinarily fast tempo again high-lighted pianist Kevin Hunt, a true virtuoso of the keyboard. S O M E O T H E R S P R I N G was v e r y melancholy and beautiful and apparently written for the wonderful Billie Holiday. The show ended as usual with a rollicking number, HALLELUJAH I JUST LOVE HIM SO, familiar to us all because it was made famous by the great Ray Charles and made for a fitting finale. As expected, the crowd called for more and the performers obliged with an encore with the great Cole Porter song GET OUTTA TOWN, bringing a wonderful evening to a close. Attendance: 261 Concert review by Desley Free

6 Destined to be one of the best music events on Brisbane jazz calendar, the Brisbane River Jazz Festival bring bring your musical taste buds to life. Located in the picturesque Waterfront Park, Newstead the program will showcase headline artists such as Kate Ceberano and Vince Jones and will appeal to music lovers and jazz enthusiasts of all ages. The Brisbane River Jazz Festival is set to deliver not only a music experience to remember but also culinary delights including food, wine and craft beer pop-up bars and other local tastes all in one day. The event will run from noon to 9.00pm and feature live music entertainment and a raft of activities that the whole family can enjoy throughout the day and early evening.

7 TICKETS ON SALE NOW Gold Coast Jazz & Blues Club members receive a 15% discount. Go to and enter code gcjazz at checkout.

8 Melbourne s Singing Rage Miss Ruby Page Friday 12 May