The Rookies @ the Jazz Lab, Melbourne - Nov. 1

(© Jeff Pritchard)

Glen Sher (alto sax); Tom Sly (trumpet); Joel Trigg (piano/kazoo); Oscar Neyland (bass); Chris Cameron drums.

 

Having been highly impressed with the Jazz Lab on my first visit, I decided to make a return visit with my son Lester to hear The Rookies who we first encountered by chance during one of my previous trips to Melbourne...

...we were walking down Brunswick Street on our way to the Uptown Jazz Cafe, we came across a small bar called the Rook’s Return which was packed full of people having a great time so we decided to check it out.

There were some musicians setting up in a corner next to a very busy bar and they looked a bit like some of the trad jazz players back home in the UK in the 1970s with denim jeans etc.  When the group started playing the first tune was Milestones and they followed that with a  great version of Blue Mitchell’s  Funji Mama. We decided to stick around and give the Uptown Jazz Cafe a miss thus saving me a difficult walk up a long staircase and also, there was no admission charge at the Rook’s Return which made it a great deal.

The group still has that Australian take on hard bop, a bit like the free-bop thing that drummer John Stevens used to be involved in but highly melodic. We enjoyed the two sets they played and it would be hard to pick out high spots but it was nice to hear their music without the background of revellers and clinking glasses. I am relying on my memory as I took no notes on the night but they played three tunes on the first set starting with a long workout on Solar then Brownsville written by Oz sax man Bernie McGann and ending with a duo version of Stella By Starlight with Joel Trigg and Glen Sher really stretching out. 

After a short interval they went straight into Ornette’s Turnaround, then If I Were a Bell, Stomping at the Savoy and ending with Just Friends which contained some wonderful drumming from Chris Cameron.

 

Talking to alto man Sher after the gig he told me he likes playing the Jazz Lab but if I came the next night to a small bar they were performing at, that that was when the music got to another level. Unfortunately, I had to catch a flight back to the UK on Wednesday afternoon so I had to decline. If you find yourself in Melbourne check out The Rookies. Mike Farmer