Judy Bailey Trio

Judy Bailey (OAM) is one of the key musicians in the development of Australian modern jazz.

While her CV stretches back to the days of Sydney’s legendary El Rocco Jazz Cellar she remains one of the most respected pianist/composers on the Australian scene, a position underlined by her commanding performance with Richard Nunns at the recent Jazz Now Festival.

The trio setting gives listeners a great opportunity to appreciate her wealth of musical ideas, wonderful sense of dynamics and beautiful sound. She can play with great sensitivity and lyricism but then she can also switch into overdrive and play with tremendous energy.

Her current band includes talented bassist Ben Waples, and outstanding young drummer Tim Firth is well known to younger listeners.

“The arguments of those who typecast contemporary jazz as excessively cerebral took a slap and some stick from the music on this night. Pianist Judy Bailey was hell-bent on having a fun-at-any-cost evening.

“She was in expansive mood in her solo introductions and pumping with energy in the ensembles. Yet she never let that wanton energy swamp the bass or drums, always leaving them space to breathe. Bailey can be a rhythm section’s dream pianist, providing much to feed on and responding to every nuance offered back. But she could also confound her colleagues with the unexpected twists her playfulness engendered. – John Shand, SMH.