Ted Vining Impressions with Bernie McGann

Impressions (formerly The Ted Vining Trio) are described as ‘hard lounge’ but are definitely ‘one of the great bands in Australian Jazz history’ – Adrian Jackson. A trio of overwhelming power, marvellously audacious and one of the most accomplished rhythm sections in the country.

Drummer Ted Vining, pianist Bob Sedergreen and bass player Barry Buckley played together for over 30 years as the Ted Vining Trio and as an acclaimed and much sought after rhythm section, which is something of a phenomenon in Jazz. The three played as if with one mind, settling into a synchronized groove and earning themselves the reputation as one of the hardest swinging bands in Australia. Together or individually they worked with every major Jazz musician in this country and others – Nat Adderley, Lee Konitz, Phil Woods, Branford Marsalis, George Cables, Bernie McGann, Don Burrows, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, James Morrison, Graham Lyle, Keith Stirling, Bob Barnard, Judy Bailey, Dale Barlow, Mike Nock, Alan Lee, Paul Grabowsky to name just a handful.

With the passing of Barry Buckley the bass chair has been filled by Michael Meagher, a young rising star who has already worked with some of Australia’s finest Jazz musicians; Scott Tinkler, Ren Walters, Andrea Keller, Julien Wilson to name a few. He is in great demand as a performer and session musician on both acoustic and electric bass.

Bob Sedergreen is widely regarded as a National Treasure. As well as his own Blues On The Boil and Art Attack, Bob was a core member of the iconic Brian Brown Quartet with Vining and Buckley. He was recently awarded the Ken Myer Medallion for his contribution to the Performing Arts, the first Jazz musician/educator to receive this prestigious award.

Ted Vining – aside from periods based in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide – has been an important figure on the Melbourne scene for nearly 50 years. He has recorded with Alan Lee, Bob Gebert, Don Burrows, his Trio, Blow and Brian Brown, with whom he toured Europe in 1978. As well as being known for his strong sense of swing, Vining is also important for forming two long-running ensembles: the Ted Vining Trio, which performed from 1970 to 2006, and Musiikki Oy (re-named as Blow in 2000) which was formed in Brisbane in 1984. Both groups have recorded several CDs each. The passing of the much-loved bassist Barry Buckley last year ended the Ted Vining Trio. Vining and Sedergreen have chosen Michael Meagher as his replacement under the new moniker, Impressions.

Ted Vining is one of the most exciting, dramatic, and soulful drummers we have ever had in this country – John Clare, Sydney Morning Herald, October 2002.