Reviews
Bryce Rohde – Turn Right At New South Wales – Rating *****
By: David L. Watson
Born in Australia, pianist and composer Bryce Rohde has a musical career that spans over 50 years, and he has played with some of the best jazz musicians in the world, Count Basie, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and John Coltrane. His most notable accomplishment was the founding of The Australian Jazz Quartet in year 1955. I had the privledge of seeing the Australian Jazz Quartet which included Rohde in 1955 or 1956 at the Academy Of Music in Philadelphia Pa. They were apart of a concert that included Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton & June Christy, Art Tatum, Tony Scott and some others greats. Rohde also played at some of this countries most prominet music halls, Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Opera House, and The Academy Of Music in Philadelphia. Rohde is recorded with The Australian Jazz Quartet, releasing about seven albums on the Bethlehem label.
Influenced by two of the world greatest jazz musicians, Art Tatum, and Nate King Cole. Rohde became absorbed also in the George Russell Lydian concept, which flavored his playing ever since. His piano playing takes on the delicate, diaphanous, poetic feel that characterizes the music of Frederic Delius. The music of “Turn Right At New South Wales” is magical, light, and sometimes a little out in left feild, but also right to the point. Rohde is constantly letting hear that there is more boundries to explore in jazz. The compositions of Rohde is that of a person that is in love with the musics that he plays. On this CD he creates mood after mood in a way that keeps you enjoying every path he takes. This CD also shows the brilliant playing of bassist Bruce Cale. Cale is also on a trio CD of Rohde ’s “Always Come Back Here”, which includes drummer Lee Charlton. Cale adds a bright light to Rohde’s playing. He leaves no void in the flow of the songs, leading to new doors, or giving them color or luster. Bryce Rohde is a great musician who is well loved in his country Australia, but over looked here in America. In Listening to this CD, I can only give it the very best rating, Two Thumbs up, Five Stars and more if they can be added.
Bryce Rohde is now a part of the Music In The Vines label owned by David Watson. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area where he plays and travels back to Australia to play at jazz festivals.
To order Bryce Rohde’s CD’s:
www.sonomajazz.com or www.jazzinhilo.com