In 1976, a 16 year old turned up with his guitar at an art show opening for his first professional engagement. He played a few tunes; some classic, some ordinary, and received the sum of $5. That, of course, was me, and this album is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that event.
The music presented here is a collection of original pieces, many of which have been in the repertoire of numerous bands, circuses, theatre shows and films, plus a few that are receiving their first airing despite having been written decades ago. All of the tunes have some of the quirks that inspire my imagination: a rhythmic oddity, some unusual harmonic format or a particular emotional attachment.
That 50 years has been nothing if not eventful. Some highlights include: The Distractions – the first proper band, First pro gig with the Tinsley Waterhouse Band, The Melbourne Improvisers’ Association, Packing Death, Several thousand gigs all around the country at major sporting, political, corporate and social events, Country Shows, Major Arts festivals, A whole lot of Rock ’n’ Roll, Jazz, Blues, Circus and Art bands, A 15 year involvement with The Wind in the Willows panto, The Legless Lizards (more than a band, it was a movement!), The Make it Up Club, and my current Tasmanian adventure with The Lutruwita Art Orchestra – an amazing bunch of people making amazing music. All bound together with the glue of spontaneity and improvisation.
Syzygy was written a long time ago, and has never been played in public – always falling into the “too hard” basket. Nowadays, it doesn’t seem that unusual and is my favourite tune on the album.
Whimsical is exactly that – almost Mariachi in feel, a short, humorous piece.
Turbulence was originally pencilled in as “Hot Night” as it came to me on a sweltering Melbourne summer evening when the hot north wind was howling and sleeping was impossible. Dark and moody with tritone/semitone harmonies.
Garramut is inspired by my childhood in PNG. A Garramut is a log drum that has a central role in village life. The local ABC radio station would play a Garramut piece as an introduction to the news. I was always struck by the rapid, mathematical sounding rhythms. It was great to let Adam loose on this one.
Plainsailing is another favourite that has been played a lot. A simple groove on the so-called “Magic Hexachord” 6-20.
In the Mangle is from the years I was involved with circus and street theatre. The Point was a street band of saxophone and two drummers, and we did roving entertainment at festivals, parties, major sporting events and the like. This was a regular, angular, upbeat blowout.
Corazon Argèn, is a bossa nova inspired, with slightly odd harmonies. A straight ahead tune, that hasn’t been played as much as it should have been.
Two Birds is a tune from the Legless Lizards “Arcadia” show. The band had an environmental focus, and “Arcadia” was a theatre show about Grassland conservation with music, immersive slide show, and dance. Harmonically, this is an exploration of the 7-33 mode – the whole tone scale with and extra note.
Joyous/Gentle/Radiance has had many incarnations over the years. This one settles into a groove built on 5 groups of three before the melody.
Eidolon is just a nice guitar tune with a circuitous chord progression
Thank you for participating in my musical life by listening to this record. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this, and every, project I have ever been in. May there be many more.
Enjoy!
Robert Jackson
Credits
Robert Jackson – Saxophone and Guitar
Philip Rex – Double Bass
Adam King – Drums
Jagdeep Shergill – Tabla on Plainsailing
Craig Pilkington – Flugelhorn on Plainsailing
Recorded 29/10 – 2/11/25 at
Audrey Studios
Engineering and Production by Craig Pilkington
Assisted by Victoria Mangano & Finn Keane
Syzygy 6:45
Whimsical 1:34
Turbulence 5:11
Garramut 2:56
Plainsailing 6:11
In The Mangle 3:12
Two Birds 6:16
Corazon Argèn 4:22
Joyous/Gentle/Radiance 4:08
Eidolon 4:06