Melbourne-based saxophonist Jamie Oehlers is on the road with his quartet as part of a national tour that will see him play most Australian states.
Jamie studied in Perth before moving east. He won the 2003 White Foundation World Saxophone Competition at Montreux and has released a number of well received albums, the last of which is The Assemblers.
Jazz Australia: How is the tour progressing?
Jamie Oehlers: The tour is going really well. As a band we have really gelled with the new material and are already starting to take it in a new direction.
JA: Do you enjoy being on the road?
JO: I love performing in different places to different people. That really is what being a musician is about for me. The actual travelling part I could do without out. Bring on the teleporter, I say!
JA: How have the responses been to date?
JO: We have been really well received at all our performances so far. I’m not sure why I still worry about presenting modern jazz to people, as we have never really encountered an audience that doesn’t appreciate what we do.
**JA: Is there one gig that has stood out?
JO: We had a fantastic gig in Adelaide at the Governor Hindmarsh. There was a really good audience there and the band had one of those nights where everyone was in top gear.
JA: You played in London in 2004. Any plans to return or do other overseas work?
JO: I always seem to be planning the next tour. At the moment I’m working on a tour of Europe and Asia for next year and there is a possibility we might be off to Japan in a few months.
JA: What are your post-tour plans?
JO: Post-tour, I have a few projects that are in development and will need to be worked on. I have a saxophone + string quartet project that I’m keen to get up and running by the end of the year, a new bass-less trio with myself, Paul Grabowsky and Dave Beck, as well as my usual gigs in Melbourne and teaching at Monash University and the VCA.
JA: How hard is it to secure work internationally if you’re based in Australia?
JO: It is not impossible, but it is a lot of hard work. If I had a dollar for every hour I spent on the computer I’d be able to fund every tour. My goal is to set up a circuit so that we can just slot in at a certain time each year. We have that pretty much set up now for the UK and Ireland, and I’m currently working on the rest of Europe.
JA: Are you optimistic about the state of the local jazz scene at the moment?
JO: I think the scene in Australia is extremely healthy. There are so many fantastic musicians in this country, and a lot of them are willing to work hard to expand their audiences overseas. As this continues to happen, our profile as artists within Australia will continue to develop and attract new audiences. I also believe that the expansion of jazz programs into schools and universities has bred a new audience amongst a younger generation of musicians.
JA: Kristin Beradi recently won the vocal competition at Montreux. You won the saxophone comp at the same festival in 2003. Does winning an international award give your career a kick start?
JO: It certainly did. An award like that adds credibility to your biography, and festivals or concert promoters love an angle to advertise you. Winning that award allowed me to set up our first tour of Europe in 2004, and has also helped in gaining festival invites within Australia.
JA: You studied in Perth and are playing with two other guys from WA. The state seems to punch above its weight in terms of producing talent. Any thoughts on why?
JO: There is a really strong jazz course at WAAPA which I believe has contributed to this. The course focuses on the fundamentals of improvisation in the first couple of years, but also allows freedom to experiment with original material. There is also camaraderie amongst the jazz musicians in Perth that reminds me a lot of Melbourne. When I was growing up there, the older guys were always helpful to the younger musicians, and everyone felt they were part of the scene.
JA: Are you looking forward to playing at Wangaratta?
JO: I always look forward to playing Wangaratta! It’s a great time of year to be up there, and there is always so much great music to hear. I think Adrian Jackson does an excellent job at programming the festival, and I’m really looking forward to hearing Geri Allen play again. Aside from the music, it is always a great opportunity for all the muso’s to get together and let our hair down. (You know, because we’re all so reserved the rest of the year!)
The quartet is: Jamie Oehlers (tenor sax), Sam Keevers (piano), Sam Anning (bass) and Ben Vanderwal (drums).
Check the remaining tour dates
Visit Jamie’s website
Find out when Jamie is playing at Wangaratta
