Wizard Master Blaster

Popping up in my research a few years back was evidence of the existence of a Jazz Master Chromatic. Victorian Laurie Smith evidently possessed one. A year after publishing this information, so did Canadian collector Doug Dawson. Where did he locate this Australian brand harmonica? Of all places in Sweden.

Recently I managed to score a specimen from Altona Meadows in Melbourne. It is somewhat different to Doug’s with a more primitive slide button (perhaps an earlier model) and plenty of sticky tape holding the box together.

Laurie Smith’s career was kick started on the back of winning the prestigious P & A (Professional and Amateur) Parade in 1940 – a Melbourne Sunday night radio (3KZ) institution.

He went on to be a featured artist with both the Tivoli and Fullers’ Circuits and was highly sought after for national radio broadcasts. In the ABC Weekly (Vol. 2 No. 33 – 17 August 1940), he is billed as the ‘Harmonica Wizard’. He wouldn’t be the only Aussie harpist to receive this title, Horrie Dargie for one was known by this moniker and a visiting Englishman, Moreton Fraser, would be too! Laurie served with the army entertainment regiment and he treaded the boards with the Kangaroos A.I.F. show. One of the venues for the show was the Theatre Royal in Elizabeth Street Brisbane.

Laurie Smith (along with juggler Jimmy Wallace) loved this theatre so much that they took over management of the Theatre Royal (as you do) in 1949 with Laurie being the sole lessee. This witnessed the return of Laurie to the stage displaying his magical skills with his Jazz Master chromatic on classics like Bolero. Two years later, Jimmy would sell his half share to Laurie and the theatre continued to flourish throughout the fifties. However, with the onset of television, theatre numbers declined resulting in its closure in 1959.

In the seventies (maybe the sixties too) Laurie would team up with his daughter Diane and display his wares on the popular Sydney Club Circuit.

For more information on Jazz Masters head to Masters of Jazz and/or Bread & Butter.

Album

Not much good comes out of Canberra except for a couple of Barren Spinsters, who I liken to The Goodies (goody goody gumdrops) of Aussie independent rock. The boys (men) have finally dropped a follow up album to their brilliant 2019 Ten Steps To Cynical Thinking.

Let The Music Ruin Your Life has a harder rockier edge, dare I say a bit of high voltage, compared to its predecessor. Brendon, the eloquent songwriter, outlines the album’s development. “We started writing for the album back in 2020, just before COVID hit. We both also became first time Dads, so it’s taken a little bit longer to get this new one out. But we’re absolutely stoked with how it turned out, and hope people dig it!”

I dug it! The album starts a million miles an hour with Takes A Lifetime (don’t try & rush it – shoestring budget). But was Brendon ready at the start? Matt is whackin’ those skins like his life depended on it. Next Starting Rumours pulls back a smidgen and rolls with a country rock feel. Smooth Moves has a nice groove with an old mate, the young (still young) Charlie Bedford adding cool guitar. Living Back Home, the lead single we’ve already highlighted in a previous Blawg and then there’s my favourite Pablo with Phil Coyne (The Wayward Aces) blasting high octane harp.

Extended Play

Kilo Band’s self titled fledgling EP has been out for a little while now, but has only recently come across my desk. Featuring an old favourite Swanee (John Swan). The highlight – the wonderful harmonica of expat and good friend of HRR Trent ‘Kunga’ Williamson, who lets rip on Rollin’ & Tumblin’.

Kunga’s still in LA (in the sunshine) and he travelled to Nashville to record with another expat Matt Moffatt, who produces and plays the six string on the EP. You can listen to an old radio interview I had with Kunga on 3MDR hear.

Songwriters In the Round – Kris Mizzi, Tim Woodz & Rick Hart

March 1 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm

What a joy to be in a listening room of like minded people (some with familiar faces), who are all in attendance for the music – plenty of time to wag the chin before, at intermission and at the end! A packed house, there were some tears shed – mostly on a couple of Kris’ ballads, but still much merriment (laughter) was to be had and communal singing.

This was a songwriters in the round of three very different styles. Kris performing his tunes penned about many of the characters from his old home town Moe – Gary (well I heard from a friend of a friend of mine that you and Gary got married last Valentines) and Richard, who we all sang home. Tim’s comical storytelling tunes about living life in the burbs – like playing Backyard Cricket (nobody wins, but everyone thinks they’re awesome). Rick writing country laden tunes about heartache & infidelity – not that he would know anything about that (isn’t that right Vanessa?).

Taking turns, each writer introduces one of their songs, but Who’s on first? I don’t know – third base. After a few side glances Kris Mizzi opened proceedings from the southern end with the exquisite (and appropriate for the venue), A Little Space (looking for a pretty place to breathe again). All were beautiful tunes sung with clear diction. There were a few cracker newbies too! One that had a trundle, after a request from the most excellent sound engineer, was the elegant Birds of Rye – this will be big.

The tall arborist, Tim Woodz entertained with his larrikin style and Bob Dylan rack harp on most of his tunes. To name a few classics; the Possum Song, the head banging Food Truck and Tall Trees (in my town I miss the tall trees I used to hang around I haven’t been home in oh so long, I miss the tall trees where I’m from), which also provided another great sing-along. Kris has covered this ditty and on the night offered subtle backing.

Rick Hart delved into his extensive catalogue and recounted his tales with his smooth as single grain whisky voice immersing into the captivated room. His wife Vanessa furnished sweet harmonies that lifted the songs to a higher realm. A tune written about one his musical heroes Levon Helm (sort of) resonated with one and all. Another, on a name that doesn’t rhyme with heartache (But they went and named you Alison) drew immediate applause as did his award winning, ripper tune Spiral (see the same old faces everyday drinking coffee in the same cafe.) Rick has a new album available at all good and bad stores and streams. Head to a good one at Bandcamp for your copy. Thanks all for a wonderful night at the best Folk club in the world.

Fret Wire Studio – March 1st @ 12:30 – 1:30 pm

Friday the 1st March was a big day out for the Ol’ Dawg Hisself and his wife manager, Pamcakes. I’m still recovering! Finally things came to pass after a text from my people to Dave’s people…..

Ruffled Feathers has been tweaked a bit since last you heard it (oh, that hurts!! – or maybe it tickles … there’s a fine line between pleasure & pain ..  just saying!!). Some most worthy and excellent bass harp & whistling have been thrown into the COOP. Who knows what else might happen before it gets LAID down (and put out of its misery 😅). Hope all is well in the Miller menagerie. Looking forward to catching up soon. Pam Xx

Heading away from the coast up to the mountain peak of the Dandenongs, a good hour and a half away, to finally record our delayed second solo single Feared Turf Flesh – the anagrams keep coming. So far we’ve had Draftee Shuffler, Adler Huffer Fest, Fart Reed Shuffle, Free Dat Shuffler and Herald Free Stuff. All went well and the chickens came home to roost without too many feathers being ruffled.

We had dodged the passing parade a number of times (the OXFAM trundlers) on our journey and we did once more heading for a latish lunch with the sound engineer extraordinaire and his better half.

Back to our old shack to see son Lachlan and then a wee detour on our way to the Selby Folk Club, with Lachlan for some Japanese cuisine. After Selby, high on the vibe, we set sail arriving home well after the midnight hour. Next time Dave (if there is) we’re recording at Shep’s Shanty – just saying!

Dawg Blawgs

Our last feature blawg for a spell A Song For Winter (Spring, Summer & Autumn Too) was posted this month. Kerryn Tolhurst shared HRR a conversant observation after viewing the article; Hi Shep. Thanks for the great research. That just about covers it. I still think the best version was the live one on GTK….that’s the way we sounded live unlike the John French production where the acoustic instruments were miked instead of played through amps with de armond pickups…..that was our sound. Thanks for the trip back in time. Cheers Kerryn Here’s a link to that version Wintersong and to another Country Radio classic I’ve recently come across Listen To The Children live at the Mulwala Music Festival of 1972.

In the photograph above Country Radio are performing in a cut away tram at the Second Fairlight Festival of 1971 (Easter).

A comment was posted on BS (Before Sunbury) by David one of the organisers of the first Fairlight (Jan). The two festivals have been confused and fused over time. We’ve had a bit of a to and fro on email and at some stage I’ll inform you of other informative titbits from the horse’s mouth (so to speak) – especially on the dodgy dealings of the Hendersons.

A little bit of housekeeping continues here at HRR of older posts. There are a few little music additions, the front page has a few alterations and some posts have been deleted.

Sláinte & a Happy St. Patrick’s day to you all – for the 17th.

“The older the harmonica, the sweeter the tune”.

Benoit’s ‘Live at Selby Folk Club’ to be released April 1 (not an April Fools joke!) over on Bandcamp.

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