May
26
Andrew Lindsay reading at the Melbourne launch of Issue 2
Thanks to the Sydney Writers Festival, the Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival and our readers Pi Oh, Andrew Lindsay, John Clare and Mandy Sayer… Issue 2 of extempore is now launched.
We had a great ‘jazzy’ launch at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club in Melbourne. Poetry by Pi Oh, a reading (performance) by Andrew Lindsay, wine by Baddaginnie Run and catering by Blakes Feast.
In Sydney, we had the perfect afternoon at Bangarra Mezzanine, thanks to the Sydney Writers’ Festival. Readings by Mandy Sayer, Andrew Lindsay and John Clare. It was a wonderful, warm vibe, with jazzy content perfectly complemented by Pimms and cucumber sandwiches, thanks to The Roo Brothers.
Apr
27
Appearing today on a resonate website near you: a little blog item about extempore >
Fools rush in…
by Miriam Zolin
I think it was Albert Einstein who said that foolish ideas are the only ones that lead to something really new happening. That is a paraphrase of course, but you get the gist.
The idea behind extempore—a bi-annual journal with content inspired by jazz and improvised music—has from the beginning been a foolish idea. Let me count (some of) the ways:
Read more…
Apr
26
In issue 2 of extempore we finally admit that we are trying to be two things: a jazz journal and a literary journal. To make the point we’re doing two launches for Issue 2 - at Bennetts Lane jazz club in Melbourne and at The Writers’ Festival in Sydney. Please join us!
Both launches are free and open to the public but we are offering light refreshments so we appreciate your RSVP to help us plan catering.
Melbourne details:
To be launched by Martin Jackson of the MJC
Tuesday 12 May, 6:30 to 7:30pm at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club
Readings, refreshments, celebration. Wines by Baddaginnie Run
RSVP by 5 May please, to miriam [at] extempore.com.au or by sms/phone to 0407 664 202
Melbourne PDF invitation available here >
Co-presented with the Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival and the Melbourne Jazz Co-Operative
Sydney details:
To be launched by jazz icon Mike Nock
Sunday 24 May, 4:30 to 5:30pm Bangarra Mezzanine
Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
As part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival
Readings, refreshments, celebration.
RSVP by 17 May please, to miriam [at] extempore.com.au or by sms/phone to 0407 664 202
Sydney PDF invitation available here >
Apr
04
With contributions by Bill Leak, Mandy Sayer, Andrew Lindsay, Ken Bolton, П O and more, extempore Issue 2 will surprise and delight.
We also interview Mike Nock, Judy Bailey, Scott Tinkler and Art Pepper and have included photos by Jane March, Gerard Anderson and Mark Peterson; illustrations by Leith O’Malley; fiction by Elisabeth Rose; poetry by Goeff Page, Rai Thistlethwayte, Pam Brown, PS Cottier; essays by Sascha Feinstein, Andrew Hurley and Melissa Bellanta and pieces by John Clare and Keith Hounslow.
Plus a bonus CD of great Australian jazz from the Birdland label.
A feast for the eyes and ears…
Jan
30
Grant Fraser, in Eureka Street 24 January 2009 says:
“Like jazz itself, extempore is intelligent, collaborative and inclusive, yet contains that intensity of vision which we associate with the best artists, both creative and interpretive. “
Read more…
Jan
10
Do comments count? A comment on the blog of one of our wonderful editors, Penni Russon, has complimented extempore. Always good to read about such things as one slaves away over a hot keyboard, getting issue 2 all squared away.
Jan
04
When PS Cottier submitted her poem ‘Silver-eyes and figs’ to the first issue of extempore , we loved it immediately. When we saw John Ryrie’s work, we knew straight away that his striking prints were perfect for our first issue–so perfect that we featured one of them on the cover. Both these contributors have rich creative lives outside extempore and they’ve both separately shared exciting news with us, which we in turn are very happy to share with you!
PS Cottier’s book The Glass Violin, published by Ginninderra Press is to be launched in February. If the poems we’ve already seen are anything to go by, this is going to be one of our favourite poetry collections for 2009 (early days, but we know what we like). We’ll keep you updated on launch news as we get it, and watch the extempore website for opportunities to purchase the collection.
From a recent review on the Reiter’s Block blog:
Australian poet P.S. Cottier truly does see the universe in a grain of sand–as well as in a tram ticket, a Caesarian scar, the names of Australian military operations, a shabby bear in the Soviet zoo, a wren visiting a dead friend’s garden, and myriad other small details of modern life that she turns into windows on the human condition, in verses both whimsical and profound.
Meanwhile, the wonderful printmaker John Ryrie, with his own expressive and whimsical approach to the human form and the human condition is exhibiting this month at the Gippsland Art Gallery in Sale in Victoria. The exhibition is of recent work and is open from 10 January to 8 March at the Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale 68-70 Foster Street, Sale, Victoria. Telephone: (03) 5142 3372 The Gallery is open weekdays 10 am to 5 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 4 pm. Entry is free.
So, congrats to both of them… and we can tell you right now… Shhhh! … we’re going to have a little bit more from both of them in Issue 2 (we couldn’t resist!)
Jan
04
Advertising bookings are now being taken for Issue 3 (November 2009) and beyond. We’re very new so we don’t know an awful lot about our readers, except that lots of them like the things we like (just as we suspected). The things we like include improvised music, art, good writing of all sorts and of course we’ve had some extremely positive responses to fresh voices, new ideas, conversations about creativity, a journal that isn’t more of the same old same old… Everyone seems to welcome our approach to design and quality.
So there you have it. Specifications and rate card available here… oh, and while we’re on that subject, we’ve just had the website redesigned so that we can now also offer advertising on all website pages. A great way to promote events, releases, products…
In the absence of funding from external sources, we’re relying on a combination of sales and advertising to stay afloat. While you’re reaching out to people via our pages (print and html), you’ll also be floating our boat… Oooh baby.
Nov
23
From today, members of the Jazzgroove Association are eligible for a 20% discount when purchasing from the extempore website.
If you’re a Jazzgroove member, take advantage of this offer here >
Nov
04
At the launch
extempore was already out in the world, but now it’s official. On Friday 31 October, in the Supper Room at St Patricks Hall, Wangaratta at the beginning of the 2008 annual jazz festival, about 70 people celebrated the journal with some wine, cheese, readings and [what a relief!] very short speeches.
Pictured above - some of our guests on this happy occasion.
We were also treated to readings by Geoff Page and John Clare. Lynn Hard, whose poems ‘Quintet’ and ‘Jazz’ appear in Issue 1 was also there on the evening and we convinced him to read ‘Quintet’ for us as well.
But before all this, jazz icon and a great supporter of both extempore and the National Jazz Writing Competition, Mike Nock, launched the journal, calling it a very welcome addition to the landscape, noting also how important it is to have a place to tell the stories around any artform.
Geoff Page treated us to a reading of ‘Coffee With Miles’ - his poem about the music in coffee shops… and more than one person said to me how much his resonated with their own experience!
A highlight was the performance by John Clare. He had agreed to read from his piece ‘Rock and Roll Diary of a Jazz Musician’ but instead of a reading, we were given a performance! John recited three excerpts from his piece, and the room was enthralled.
John Clare
Great wines by Baddaginnie Run, cheese by the Milawa Cheese Company and thanks to Steve, Ann and Bettina for all their help on the night!
Wine & Cheese!
