Fresh from appearances at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Australian Jazz Icon John Pochee gives a very special performance at the Perth Jazz Society this Saturday, 12th November 2005, starting at 4pm.
This year’s Wangaratta Festival featured a performance by John’s legendary group Ten Part Invention as well the Bernie McGann Quartet, which has recently launched a new live CD, and in Perth he will be accompanied by Mat Jodrell – trumpet, Carl Mackey – saxophone, Graham Wood – piano and Pete Jeavons – bass.
John Pochee began his career in Sydney in the mid 50s and has led a colourful and diverse career over the last 50 years. He has performed all over the world with various bands and is a legendary figure in Australian jazz.
He has performed with many international jazz luminaries, his favourites being pianists Barry Harris and Kirk Lightsey and legendary saxophonists Lee Konitz, Dewey Redman and the master of the soprano saxophone, Steve Lacy.
As a player, John has developed a unique style that is immediately recognisable and solidly in the great jazz tradition but that is nevertheless warmly Australian. He has influenced the sound of Australian contemporary jazz by leading and playing in some of our most important groups, including Ten Part Invention, The Last Straw, co-leading The Engine Room (with the late Roger Frampton) as well as playing in Bernie McGann’s Trio and Quartets. Over the last five years he has also led a quintet, The Space Cadets, featuring trumpet great Warwick Alder and some of Sydney’s most outstanding young musicians.
For further information, including a Cadence review of John Pochee at the Chicago Jazz Festival 2004 plus a Downbeat interview in March 2005, and to view footage of Ten Part Invention’s performance at the John F. Kennedy Center, please visit www.tenpartinvention.com
