WollCon’s Jazz Series started on March 9 at Gleniffer Brae with Jo Lawry’s launch of her CD Acrobats. It was a full house, and the crowd was eager for encores.
The trio – Jo Lawry (voice), Linda May Oh (double bass) and Ben Vanderwell (drums) – are icons of the Australian Jazz scene, musicians who have studied and performed extensively overseas. Jo auditioned to work with Sting in 2009 and found herself touring and recording with him over the next 10 years. In 2022 the Jazz Times selected Linda as Bassist of the Year and Ben has performed with some of the greatest names in jazz. Engagement with this calibre of performers has an incredible impact on young musicians.
The WollCon junior jazz combo (Tom, Daisy, Hamish, and Tilly), who were in the groove after a performance class with the pros, performed the opening set.
We interviewed the students, who all attend Wollongong High School of Performing Arts, to find out about their journey with jazz.
On Piano – Tilly Cohen
Tilly learnt classical piano with Brad Baker at WollCon and continues to study with him. “I love having both genres of music; it gives me a range of things to play, listen to and enjoy,” she said.
“Eric Dunan chucked me into this jazz band and for the longest time I felt out of my comfort zone and felt ‘This just isn’t for me’. But after pushing through and just consistently stuffing up, learning, and trying to not get mad at myself, I started to fall in love with it.”
Tilly says making someone’s day a little better is the most rewarding part of performing. “This is especially true with older people who come up to you and tell you how much they loved it,” she said. “It makes my heart warm.”
On Saxophone – Thomas Haines
"I started sax in year 4 in the school band. I loved the music, went to gigs and heard great players who inspired me. Listening to the pros playing sax is amazing and it is fun playing in bands. I also play a bit of piano and have an electric drum kit at home."
Thomas said his favourite jazz musicians are John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, and the pair who’ve had the most significant influence on his music are Eric Dunan and David Reglar from WollCon.
He enjoys being at WHSPA: “Lessons are fun, there are great teachers, and we work with different musicians and instruments.”
On Guitar – Daisy Slater
“I was about 7 and I started playing music at 10. I play the double bass and electric guitar.”
Daisy said the hardest part about playing jazz is learning the theory and putting it into practice.
“However, being able to play with your friends is fun. We all attend Wollongong High School of Performing Arts and WollCon, giving us lots of time to perfect our music skills and play together.”
Daisy’s favourite jazz musicians are Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.
Asked what had been her best performance experience, Daisy said: “Playing the opening set for Jo Lawry’s launch of her CD Acrobats.”
On Drums – Hamish Turnbull
“I was born interested in music. I only remember loving it,” Hamish said. “My mum and dad are opera singers; my brother plays the guitar and sings. I was lucky to be born into a musical family. I have had musicality imprinted into me from the beginning.”
Hamish said he used to hate jazz. “But it was a new world when Eric started the combo.”
He also sings and plays the violin.
“I play classical violin because jazz violin is too complicated for my drummer’s brain.”
Hamish, Tilly and Daisy will perform at Music and Tea at The Gallery on July 6. The feature artists will be a jazz quartet led by sax player Alec Watts, who will premiere new works
