City Sounds: Jazz Surreal, 17 November
Sunday, 12pm to 3:30pm 12pm, 1pm, 2pm & 3pm @ Reddacliff Place
A project based around Nicholas Robinson’s love of the music of Django Reinhardt. A blend of gypsy jazz, old French waltz and upbeat swing summarises the sound you will hear. As the son of a jazz double bassist, it was obvious that music would play a big part in Nicholas’s life. The development of being able to play guitar in the style of gypsy jazz, all began with attending legendary Brisbane gypsy jazz guitarist Ewan Mackenzie’s fortnightly workshops in Milton. From humble beginnings this then translated for Nicholas into busking around the streets and markets of Brisbane, gigging at the Brisbane Brewhouse and performing for private functions.
What only deepened his love for gypsy jazz was his attendance at the Django Festival in Northampton, Massachusetts at the prestigious Smith’s College. With guitar in hand, Nicholas attended full-day technical workshops and got to know musicians from all over the world by joining in the late-night jams over the six nights. The highlight for Nicholas was the honour of jamming with the best musician on the planet, aka gypsy jazz virtuoso Tcha Limberger. Captivating all of these amazing experiences, the Jazz Surreal project was created, with all resolve and intent to pay homage to; and evangelise the sound of Django Reinhardt.