Jazz gains popularity

Press, 2 June 1988, Page 7

Jazz gains popularity

Jazz is becoming increasingly popular in Australia as young people look for alternatives in music, says a visiting jazz group, The Last Straw.

There was a lot of interest in jazz among younger people, said the Australian group’s drummer, John Pochee, in Christchurch yesterday. The group is here to take part in “Jazz and Blues ’88,” a festival to be held during the next few days. “Jazz is increasingly popular in Sydney, and throughout Australia,” said Pochee.

“People are looking for something different. There is nothing happening.>With popular music,

which is repetitive and played by machines. There is nothing creative about it, and people are looking for alternatives.” More jazz bands were coming up and a lot of younger musicians were studying jazz, he said.

The Last Straw has five members: John Pochee, on drums; Bernie McGann, alto saxophone; Ken James, tenor saxophone; Tony Esterman, piano; and Lloyd Swanton, double bass. The group’s repertoire runs from hard bop and rock to the lyrical.

Hard bop, which suggests the influence of blues-based black American music, was a good description for of

the band’s music, said Pochee. Charles Mingus and Thelonius Monk were the band’s main influences, he said.

The band plays a lot of its own music, written by Bernie McGann.

A lot of fine jazz musicians were coming out of New Zealand, said Pochee.

“It is quite amazing you are producing so many.” Many of these musicians went to Australia because of the opportunity to play with more musicians, hear more jazz and attract better audiences.

The Last Straw will play at the Christchurch Teachers College Auditorium today at 8 p.m.