Queensland and New South Wales harmonised at Jazz Upstairs on Sunday night (June 8) as part of the Brisbane International Jazz Festival.
Brisbane pianist Steve Newcomb, Head of Jazz at the Queensland Conservatorium, teamed up for the very first time with alto saxophonist and prolific album producer Jeremy Rose from the Sydney Conservatorium for a night of inventive and enjoyable jazz.
They eased us into Sunday evening with their smooth version of Thelonius Monk's ‘Ask Me Now’. They upped the pace, just a little, with a piece of bossa nova jazz where Steve's complex rhythms and Jeremy's highs and lows gave us a smooth ride, and like the first piece, a soft landing.
Steve Newcomb & Jeremy Rose © Mia Forrest
The evening was a testament to two great musicians coming together. When one was leading, the other gave subtle support. At other times, they were a real duet. Their solos were terrific, but not separate from the whole piece. On occasion, we could not give the usual appreciative clap after one because they had already moved the music on together.
The first set continued to gather just a little more pace with ‘Stable Mates’ followed by the soulful ‘You Don't Know What Love Is’, then they finished with their improvisation on a simple folk tune that Jeremy had brought back from his study in a remote Greek village.
Jeremy Rose © Mia Forrest
The highlight of the second set was their improvisation on Duke Ellington's ‘Mood Indigo’ that segued into free jazz that moved seamlessly between the two musicians. They carried that freedom into their final piece of Barbados-style blues, which left us both excited and satisfied.
This was no battle for the State of Origin but, if it had been, the score would have been win-win.