Excelsior

So not having much of a chance to see anything except stuff related to work.

A great young band, Medium Brown and 20th Century Dog, seriously good players.

It is great to be attracting consistently good audiences to see the latest in what is happening in improvised jazz. If you get a chance, it is really worth a visit if you love jazz, though it comes with a not too comfortable, but a great atmosphere with musicians, music lovers mingling warning.
www.jazzgroove.com

www.ceressolutions.com.au

All work and no play

A busy week, exciting to be working on a concept to produce a concert series of jazz/world music next year at the Factory in Enmore.

Its been a good thing, meeting up with artists, discussing the project, putting together the business plan.

As well as the arts, things are moving along for my financial women's website - womenandwealth. So its busy, busy tying all the bits and pieces together.

www.ceressolutions.com.au

Music @ The Factory

Ok, so I have this idea that there is an incredible amount of talent in Sydney at the moment. The most fantastic musicians, who deserve a wider audience.

I also see huge audiences for jazz music at Festival events, or for international guest artists. In my mind I am wondering why there seems to be such a huge gap from people who enjoy this genre and people who are experiencing local musicians. Certainly, the talent of the Australian musicians is world class and I guess the proof is in how well they are doing overseas.

So through a series of events, I find myself in the process of producing a concert series - the theme is great music in friendly, lush surroundings. A common underlying factor for the performances is a jazz influence, but not to the extent where it overtakes the incredible diversity and range of what music is today.

In the best traditions I am going through the motions, researching, lots of talking to people, sourcing funding, finding interesting combinations of artists. Can I turn this idea into reality? I think I can - here's to 2008 and Places and Spaces.

Suggestions or comments as to what would make this work are welcome.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

From war to technology futures

This week's touch of culture was Stories in the Dark, by Deborah Oswald, performed by ATYP - Australian Theatre for Young People. A mixture of folk tales and the grim reality of life in a war torn city.

For some reason as I was watching it I was thinking Sarajevo. I visited Sarajevo when Yugoslavia existed. It was a beautiful city. On the surface it certainly seemed to be working as a melting pot.

One wonders what happened to the people we met, how can one think of a future when faced with such a bleak reality? When you scratch the surface of a civilisation how quickly it can unravel.

The script is good, I found the first half a bit rambling, but it certainly came together by the end. Worth seeing it is on at Riverside, Parramatta.

As a contrast I went to CEBIT this week, the future of technology, or so they say. I love my technology, but you know I also love the feel of putting pen to paper and the endless possibilities that are before you when you start a new book. Beautiful white pages, perhaps the appeal is that it is finite, not like a computer screen which has the possibility to go on for what seems forever.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Herbie Hancock

Great to see such a huge audience for Herbie Hancock.

Kind of a strange combination of out there stuff with very commercial. Musos were great, but the rendition of Stevie Wonder's - Just called to say I love you, was more proof that a professional muso can sound really bad, a bit like a karaoke tune.


Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Action and drama in a theme park

Well it was interesting seeing some shows at Movie World and Sea World, perhaps animal trainers shouldn't cross over into drama. This being a definite case of cross something or other arts, with Sea Lion handler meeting pirate ship drama. Not very dramatic, but you can get away with it when you have a couple of cute seals.

Even better was the fact that their enclosure is being renovated, so it felt nice and close and personal on the lawn, with the seal coming onto land to do a painting? Well, it wasn't a Picasso, but we managed to get visual arts, drama and was that a bit of singing all in one performance.

Debatable whether it is better to just stick to the facts and do the entertaining through education or whether we need pirate outfits to keep the masses entertained.

The animal adventures where my daughter got to meet a dolphin was an absolute winner. Meeting Colin the dolphin and his trainer Dion was a definite highlight of our visit to Surfers Paradise. Totally recommend it.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au

Time Warp

It was an Easter performance, but a week later to confuse the issue. The Song Company performing Visitatio at St Marys Crypt. A combination of early music, Oud playing and a farting wind organ.

It sounded beautiful, a little over dramatic for my tastes, but a fantastic setting.

Great to catch up with Roland and to see the singers after such a long time.

Joanne Kee
www.ceressolutions.com.au