In the 2005 finals four talented young musicians presented a great variety of music resulting is a very enjoyable afternoon for the audience and the performers.

The Sue Cathcart Memorial Youth Jazz Award has been running for ten years. It is designed to encourage the involvement of young musicians within our community in jazz. It also commemorates Sue Cathcart, a long-time stalwart of our club and an enthusiastic promoter of jazz.

The award is valued at $500 first and $100 runner-up and deserving of strong competition. In recent years we have found it difficult to attract sufficient competitors to satisfy the objective of encouraging and promoting jazz to our youth. This does not reflect on the standard of the winners. Every year there has been a competent young musician with an obvious love and flair for jazz who has been a worthy winner.

In 2006 we did not attract sufficient entrants to conduct the competition. I have always felt we were lacking access to the music community knowing that there were more young musicians out there with the ability to compete. It is thought one deterrent may have been unfamiliarity with the Jazz Club.  In an attempt to circumvent this obstacle the Committee decided to run the award in 2007,  in association with the Launceston Competitions. We believe potential entrants are more likely to respond to the competitions environment.

Hector Beveridge - Convenor Youth Jazz 

 

Callum Tully, a student from Riverside High School, was a worthy winner of the $500 first prize 2008 Sue Cathcart Memorial Youth Jazz Award conducted at the Launceston Competitions.

Callum is a drummer and presented in a quartet with electric base, piano and saxophone. They played two tunes well known to us, "All Blues" from Miles Davis' Kind of Blue album and the Duke Ellington's "Caravan".

Callum's drumming was strong, rhythmic and both tunes were arranged to showcase his skills.

Callum Tully pictured with the president of the Launceston Jazz Club, Derek Fellows

 

A confident young pianist, Tomas Webster, was the successful winner of the $100 Runner-up award.

Tomas played another Ellington number, "C Jam Blues" on solo piano and Song for my Father on electronic keyboards. C Jam Blues was Tomas' own arrangement and was one of the best numbers of the night.

For "Song for My Father" Tomas had a rhythmic backing from a second keyboard played by Robert Allen.

Tomas' keyboard was set with flute sounds which made for an interesting rendition.  

Hector Beveridge - Convenor Youth Jazz 

Guitarist Chang Kim, an 18 year old student at Newstead College, won the 2007 Sue Cathcart Memorial Youth Jazz Award conducted at the Launceston Competitions. Chang, who was competing for the award for the first time, played two pieces, Joe Beck and Blue Bossa, to win the $500 first prize.  

Chang began studying violin at the age of two, went on to study classical guitar six years ago and now studies jazz with teacher Brendan Siemsen.

Out of school, Chang, who lives in Launceston, plays in his five-piece heavy metal band, Mind Set. They have just released their first CD, Heart Of The Storm, consisting of mostly original songs he helped write.

He sees no conflict between jazz and heavy metal genres.

Jazz, classical, hard-core heavy metal rock - it's all music to guitarist Chang Kim.  "With jazz I like the theory and improvisation....with jazz it's different every time"....Chang Kim
 
Photo courtesy of the Launceston Examiner.

 

Talented 18 year old Saxophonist,  Daniel MacDonald Evans, also competing for the award for the first time, was the successful winner of the $100 Runner-up award.  Daniel performed  Chelsea Bridge on baritone sax and In Walked Bud on alto sax.

Daniel lives in Burnie and is studying Advanced Music (Double Performance) in Year 12 at Hellyer College.

Daniel started playing the alto saxophone in Grade 6 when he joined the Emusicians and he also plays the soprano saxophone and the baritone saxophone with the Wynyard Concert Band.

Daniel's saxophone teacher, Andy Farrell, has fostered and developed Daniel's interest in jazz and improvisation.   

 In the 2005 finals four talented young musicians presented a great variety of music resulting is a very enjoyable afternoon for the audience and the performers.

Winner of the 2005 Sue Cathcart Award was drummer Angus Tarnawsky. Angus is a 17 year old drummer who was competing in the award for the third time. His development over that time was obvious and he impressed everyone present with a confident, well rounded performance which displayed his ability to play the drummer's support support role as well as execute an improvised solo. A feature was playing the drums with his hands on one solo. Angus is studying Pre-tertiary music at Newstead College and wants to develop a career in music. His dedication to the drums extends to monthly trips to Melbourne for special lessons. Angus was supported by Andrew Jones (2004 winner) on piano and Peter Waddle on bass. They played George Gershwin's Embraceable You and From Within, a complicated tune written by a Latin pianists, Michele Camelio.

Amanda Gale, a 17 year old flautist and vocalist also from Newstead College repeated her 2003 success of winning the Runner-up award. Amanda is another who wants to make a career in music, in solo flute performance. She missed last year's competition, playing in a school orchestra in Germany at the time, has recently returned from an international Master Class in Italy, and is soon to depart for a two month stint in the United States, studying with some of the world's foremost musical educators. Amanda sang Put Your Head on My Shoulder, backed by piano, bass and drums and then played Sentimental on the flute. Two beautiful tunes performed with poise and feeling.

Other entrants were Bill Forshaw (18), guitar and Simon Robb (17), alto sax. Both were competing for the first time. They have, however, been playing for many years and both started on the piano which is Simon's main instrument, winning the under 18 piano champion at the Launceston Competitions in May this year. He has been playing Sax for five years and plays in a Grammar School jazz group. He played a delightful arrangement of Errol Garner's Misty and followed with an up-tempo version of Four, a Miles Davis tune that was enthusiastically received by the audience.

Bill Forshaw. another Newstead College student, has been playing guitar since he was eight. He plays in several groups including AT3 (Angus Tarnawsky Trio) with which he performed on the day. He opened with an up-tempo version of In a Sentimental Mood and then fully tested his feel for jazz guitar with Spanish Key from Miles Davis' most experimental album Bithches Brew. A big challenge that he met with gusto.

There were very few empty seats in the Boatshed and the audience showed genuine appreciation for all performances, including an impromptu jam by the contestants and their support musicians whilst the judges were deliberating.

The assistance and support of Barratts Music and The Royal  Oak Hotel is recognised and greatly appreciated by the committee and Jazz Club.

Hector Beveridge

The finals of the Sue Cathcart Memorial Youth Jazz Award once again provided a wonderful afternoon of entertainment this year. Although the finalists were few – only five to be exact, the performances were of a very high standard and an enthusiastic crowd turned out to give plenty of encouragement.

The finalists included James le Fevre on Saxophone, Angus Tarnawsky on drums and three piano players: Bonnie Castles, Tristan Jennings and Andrew Jones. Tasmania is renowned throughout the country for producing many excellent jazz pianists and it is great to see this trend continuing amongst the youth!

Bonnie Castles, the sole female representative, started the afternoon with solo performances of two beautifully rehearsed pieces.

Bonnie was followed by drummer Angus Tarnawsky who, accompanied by his band, presented a Coltrane piece “Equinox”. Angus’ second piece was an original, and he confidently and effortlessly delivered some very tricky timing changes, showing a high level of skill topped off with a perpetual smile.

Tristan Jennings was obviously enjoying himself as he gave lively performances of “Song for Suzie” and “Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby” accompanied by an equally energetic band. Tristan was followed by

James le Fevre on saxophone with “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” and an interesting and unusual version of “Basin Street Blues”. His selection of pieces showcased his ability to skillfully handle both a smooching and a swinging tempo, providing plenty of variety for the listener.

The final performer was Andrew Jones who gave outstanding renditions of “Take The A-Train” and “Mind Games” demonstrating his competence in improvising and his ability to control and direct the flow of the piece and the band.

For the first time in the history of the competition, the judges, after long deliberation, decided to award equal first place to James le Fevre and Andrew Jones. Congratulations to those two well-deserving, talented and professional young musicians.

It certainly was an afternoon of outstanding entertainment, however, the highlight would have to be the simple fact of witnessing young people- whether they be entrants, accompanists or spectators - gaining great enjoyment from being involved in jazz.

Anna Barns

OTHER HAPPENINGS

St Patricks College Jazz Ensemble and Big Band.

Review

On Sunday 14 August 2005, a packed ‘Boatshed’ was entertained by two bands from St Patrick’s College. A total of 27 students performed tunes from the jazz standards songbook under the musical direction of Fiona Mowat. The bands were:

1. St Pats Big Band, a newly formed group from the junior school, comprised 5 saxes, 3 trombones, 5 trumpets and a 5 piece rhythm section – keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, drums and percussion. They played with a lot of enthusiasm, several of them rising to the challenge of improvised solos, and were very well received by the audience.
2. St Pats Jazz Ensemble from the senior school comprising 3 trumpets, 3 saxes, flute, keyboard, guitar, bass guitar, drums and percussion. Two members were unfortunately absent, being in Hobart to sit music exams and their places were taken by Fiona Mowat (trumpet/trombone) and Dan Doran (sax). This group performed last year and their experience and ensemble work stood out, there being several fine solos and interesting arrangements. The ensemble travelled to Melbourne on the following Thursday to participate in the Melbourne Schools Bands Festival. They also played in the Rialto Tower and attended performances of The Lion King and at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club.

An inaugural jazz competition organised by James Maddock and sponsored by the Clarence Council was put together for young jazz musicians, 21 or under.

The entrants were invited to submit an audition tape of two jazz pieces; one a standard and the other a twelve bar blues. Out of eighteen received, eight were selected to perform in the semi-final at the Queen's Head Hotel, in Hobart on January 13th. As it turned out, I was the only representative from the north of the state, and was one of the five finalists selected to perform at the Clarence Jazz Festival. The winner would receive $1,000 sponsored by the Clarence Council. The final was held on Friday, 25th January at Bellerive Board Walk. The judges were George Washingmachine, a representative from the Clarence Council and a representative from the ABC. Approximately one thousand people were in the audience. I had to play first and was very nervous looking at all those people! My first piece was Take the A Train by Billly Strayhorn, which I had played for the Sue Cathcart Memorial Competition, and my next piece was Straight, No Chaser by Thelonious Monk.

The winner was Gillan Gregory, 19, who played the jazz guitar. His pieces were My Favourite Things and I have forgotten his second one. He played both of them brilliantly. Gillan and I were both members of the Tattersall Youth Big Band. It was a great night, although driving down and back the same night was a bit tiring, but we had to come back the same day because I had a school music camp that weekend!

These competitions are good experience and I'll try again next year.

Andrew Jones

 

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