Soothe your weekday blues away with the free ‘Green Jam Sessions' every Friday afternoon on the Queensland Performing Arts Centre’s (QPAC’s) Melbourne Street Green.
An evening of smooth jazz, chilled beverages and great company, unwind to cool tunes played by musicians from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University as they showcase their repertoire of jazz standards, contemporary grooves and laid back funk.
One of the performers at the event, Erin Fitzsimon from the Erin Fitzsimon Quartet, talks more about ‘Green Jam Sessions', music and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.How important is it to have events such as the ‘Green Jam Sessions' to showcase local Brisbane talent?
Providing free music for Brisbane definitely supports the Brisbane music scene and showcases diversity. Having events like ‘Green Jam’, not only support the Brisbane music scene, but the artists too.
Erin Fitzsimon QuartetHas it become a popular event? Is there a good response from the crowd?
I’ve been attending ‘Green Jam’s since I first moved to Brisbane at the beginning of 2013, and think it’s a great atmosphere to chill out on a Friday evening. There’s always a crowd about with a nice and relaxed environment.
Tell us a little bit more about the ‘Green Jam Sessions'…
‘Green Jam’ often hosts ensembles made up of students from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and provides three hours of music on a Friday afternoon on the Grass outside QPAC (near the Cultural Centre bus station).
Do you find your studies at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music has helped you hone your skills as a musician?Definitely. The teaching staff, facilities and fellow students that I have been able to learn from during my time here have made such an impact on my musical career and direction.
Does the quartet write their own music or is it mainly covers and jazz standards?
At this stage we are playing mostly jazz standards, but often arrange more modern tunes to fit the style. We have had discussions about bringing in originals, so I guess they’re on the way!
Where has the quartet been playing around Brisbane?
I have a local residency at The End in West End, where we sometimes play standards, usually on the last Sunday of every month. There are a couple of other bars around Brisbane that occasionally host us, however we often enjoy road tripping to jazz festivals, wineries and weddings.
Is there a limited audience for jazz bands, or do you find it is a great niche market?
It can suit all kinds of things. I think there is an audience who enjoy actively listening to jazz music (which is great), and then there are those who enjoy it from a far (whether it be background music at a bar, or welcoming music to a wedding reception). It most certainly holds its own place in the scene.
How does this project differ to your band Inigo? (Who just got into Soulfest, nice work!)
Thank-you! We’re stoked. Jazz has a lot more freedom in lots of ways. There are a bunch of tunes that everyone knows, and it’s about how you interpret them rather than playing a specific thing. Players are interchangeable and the size of the ensemble is scalable to what sound you’re after.
What other projects are you working on at the moment?
Aside from Inigo and the quartet, I’m also involved in a jazz group that focuses on original jazz material. We’re playing the Brisbane Jazz Club on November 20th.
Where do you hope to go with your career as a musician individually and as a band/quartet?
It would be great to build myself a career in music, and I hope to continue playing with the guys in the quartet. They’re all such amazing musicians and I’m so lucky play alongside them!
‘Green Jam Sessions' will be held every Friday afternoon on QPAC’s Melbourne Street Green from 17th October to 19th November. The Erin Fitzsimon Quartet play on the 7th November.
