Red light streams across The Ellington Jazz Club’s black walls— it is the blood which gives life to The Ellington. It is jazz! The heart which keeps it pumping is the venue’s owner, jazz pianist and composer Graham Wood.
Every Friday at The Ellington patrons are treated to the Graham Wood Trio from 6-7:30pm, a guest artist from 8:30-10:30pm, and a Late Night Groove Series musician from 11:30pm onwards. Wood plays jazz piano superbly accompanied by double bassist Sam Anning and drummer Daniel Susnja. Ali Bodycoat is a regular feature act. Her verve, deliciously spinning vibrato and dramatic gestures make her an asset to the club. She even sang Toxic when Britney Spears was in town! Her guitarist, Simon Jeans, is truly exciting. Jeans plays as if he is scatting on his guitar strings. Sexy mama Victoria Newton is a great example of a funky closing act.
Last month Wood launched his newest album The G-Train at The Ellington. The session musicians included saxophonist Carl Macke and trumpet player Matt Jordell to complement the Graham Wood Trio. Together they improvised the album’s grittiest tracks. Wood composed the album’s most poignant and evocative songs. Dahli’s Delight has a melody that is like a child walking in autumn. It is beautiful and melancholic. Closes, inspired by a late night drinking partner, consists of a rhythmic swagger and piano runs which evoke the sensation of liquor tumbling down your throat.
The Ellington could be Perth’s classiest jazz club. Every note played is crisp and every musical pause is tight but having to pay extra to sit down and sometimes overenthusiastic crowd control are sour notes in the mix. Some extra thought on the cocktail names wouldn’t go astray either. ‘Strange Fruit’ may be a neat allusion to the jazz classic made famous by Billie Holiday but as the song title refers to the lynched bodies of African Americans it’s somewhat tasteless.
Over the other side of town is one of Perth’s most idiosyncratic, low profile venues – where the food and drink is BYO and yet people willingly line up hours before the show. Entrance to the Jazz Cellar is via a phone booth and once underground the audience are entertained by the Cornerhouse Jazz Band. Strolling through the audience like show business professionals the band plays Dixieland jazz from 8pm until 11pm every Friday. They cover wartime jazz standards from the 1930s-1940s and encourage the audience to dance and sing along. The celebratory atmosphere makes you feel like a soldier or a flapper enjoying the night amongst friendly strangers.
Whether you prefer the ‘classy’ or the ‘bohemian’, the Jazz Cellar and The Ellington are two of Perth’s finest jazz venues.
Jake Dennis
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