Aerogramme by John Scurry's Reverse Swing

John Scurry’s REVERSE SWING
24bit 48k

“Aerogramme” is the third album release from Reverse Swing, led by Melbourne guitarist John Scurry. Recorded in late 2023, this now well established group and cohort of players embark upon a host of new compositions of differing hues, prompting reflection and gratitude, while exercising a collective contemporary sensibility.

The fourteen tunes on this album have, as John has stated previously,
“arrived as independent entities that perhaps have some musical promise”. They gain affinity through a common feeling for form and melody as a means to elicit a credible musical presence. Most of the tunes on this current album, as the titles may suggest, have been borne out of some lived moment that has triggered the imagination. Titles are a necessary afterthought when word and sound are meshed to become, hopefully, a more meaningful listen.

“St.Cyr” initially was a three part set of chord changes in the manner of early jazz and ragtime or indeed choro, and in time it became an honoring of New Orleans guitarist Johnny St Cyr and the late 1920s period. Eugene as co -composer was integral to the melodic flow of this piece.

In the perennial custom of borrowing birdsong, “A Butcher’s Hook” was an accidental moment of arrested attention in encountering a new evocative and haunting song. As Raymond Carver’s poem “Make Use Of Things” suggests, this butcher bird’s plaintive song met the Spanish tinged rhythms of the New World.

Finally, “Aerogramme” as overall title of this, our third CD album, perhaps encapsulates the general tenor of the various tunes, including the bonus downloads. For those of a certain generation when written communication, distance, and time were measured in weeks, if not months, the aerogramme or air letter, was the physical embodiment of cobbled moments, and sentiments made palpable.

There is something alluring and attractive in the look of the word itself that implies histories, memories and feelings that meld with ”Aerogramme” and connects with the other tunes on the album which hopefully, accounts for a coherent if intuitive, conformation of songs without words.

“Aerogramme” was recorded over three days in late December 2023 with regular band members, Eugene Ball (trumpet), Brennan Hamilton –Smith (clarinet and bass clarinet), James Macaulay (trombone), Matt Boden (piano), Sam Keevers (piano), Howard Cairns (bass), Danny Fischer (drums) and John Scurry (guitar).
Special guests on various tunes are Stephen Grant (alto sax), Pierre Jaquinot (guitar) and Julien Wilson (tenor sax).

Stephen was a significant band member on our previous CD “Early Risers” and again his alto sax sound permeates beautifully in the horn section as do his beckoning solos. Stephen has played many a gig with the band over the years, primarily as pianist, but in this instance, as on “Early Risers”, he was enlisted for his distinctive alto sax sound, allied with his superb musicality.
Julien Wilson, on tenor sax, added on his tracks his distinctive and at times plaintive sound to uncanningly navigate and draw out the emotional sense of the music at hand.
After playing regularly with guitarist Pierre Jaquinot over the past few years, it was a great pleasure to invite him to be on this album and add his unique voice and seamless solos to a new grouping.

LINER NOTES
“Aerogramme” is dedicated to my friends: the musicians all present here in full flight on these fourteen tracks and six bonus tracks of original music.

I have had the immense pleasure and privilege to have played with them over many years and of late, as we go on, they have enabled this music to sound better and sometimes better again. I salute them for not only rewarding me but more importantly, honouring the music and bringing some joy to those who may be listening.

As always I am indebted to my dear friend Eugene Ball for his indispensable contribution and support over many years to both transcribe my tunes, create superb colourful horn arrangements, and at times provide wise counsel and consideration.
Thanks also to Brennan Hamilton-Smith for his transcriptions as well and his horn arrangements.
Thanks to Phil Noy for recording and the mixing of the sessions at Merri-Bek Band Hall.

Thanks to Omid Shayan at Merri-Bek Band Hall for the use of the facility. It is much appreciated. Thanks to Philip Rex at Paper Mache Studios for mastering yet another Reverse Swing CD.

Finally, thanks also to Allan Mitelman, Julien Wilson, Pierre Jaquinot, Hans Jahr, Sonny Rehe, Michael Steinman, Brother Bob, Dr Michael Levenda, Gideon Haigh, Alex Sasse, SYCC, Goodies cafe, and not least of all, dearest Carolyn Jones and Tinka, Amelia, Mem, Vivi, Lily and Dianne.

John Scurry July 2024

John Scurry has been a stalwart of the Australian swing and traditional jazz scene for five decades, while simultaneously being a renowned visual artist and teacher. He has performed at major jazz festivals throughout Australia, Europe and North America with iconic bands including The Red Onions, while his paintings have been exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria and the Art Gallery of NSW