John Scurry's Reverse Swing Quintet
John Scurry's Reverse Swing
Formed by Melbourne jazz guitarist John Scurry more than fifteen years ago Reverse Swing will be performing at Southside on Saturday 21 November featuring the talents of: Eugene Ball trumpet, Paul Furniss reeds, Matt Boden piano, Howard Cairns double bass, and John Scurry guitar.
Reverse Swing has released three albums of original music composed by Scurry with Eugene Ball to critical acclaim (Post Matinee, Early Risers and Aerogramme).
American jazz reviewer Michael Steinman describes Reverse Swing as “quietly, subversively remarkable” with “each song complete and shapely: a painting or photograph in itself.”
Scurry has played in numerous groups since the late 1960s both locally as well as touring internationally. Similarly, all members of the group have significant and long histories of performing at the highest level – both locally and internationally – and are very present on the Melbourne and national jazz music scene.
Of Early Risers, Australian music writer John Shand describes the music as “rooted in the familiarity of pre-bebop jazz, but much more is in play than just a fine mist of nostalgia. The melodies can be hugely engaging, as can the arrangements…while the solos are apt and smile-inducing.”
Jazz critic Eric Myers, writing about Early Risers describes Scurry’s music as “Ellingtonian”. Reflecting on Aerogramme, he notes that “the band includes unabashed traditionalists, so much of the music has the flavour of pre-bebop. Scurry's music palpably transcends normal categories.”
And journalist Gideon Haigh says Aerogramme “is what you get when talent blends with experience, seriousness with fun. Out comes the sound of art.”
Reverse Swing will be playing as per usual, a blend of original compositions from the band’s songbook plus a mix of perhaps underplayed tunes and standards from early and mid-century jazz. Tunes we love.
John Scurry's Reverse Swing can be heard on Spotify and accessed on Bandcamp.
The band as a quartet currently has a regular Thursday residence at Ruzia's Winebar in Caulfield North.
Listen to Reverse Swing here!
Rating
E
Duration
120 min
