Listen – Various recordings and performances
Working my way through the scout hall, reception, hotel and restaurant scenes, I was ushered into ‘residencies’ ie I was contracted to a particular hotel and sometimes I had my own room. In this way, I worked the Hotel Australia in Melbourne. The Terrance Room was so ‘french’ to me – the closest I’d been to Paris! I worked the Chevron and the Ritz Hotel with a modern jazz quartet in 1967 and this is where I met Brian Jones and Kevin Simmonds, who both pay with me on my album, Vocal Chords and Shoestrings.
The tracks are from various times in my life with various artists and musicians. I am so glad to be able to share these with you. I only ever wanted to tell it as it is, for myself, and for my audience and my friends.
Beyond Blues is a direct response to Julia Gillard’s question, “how do we get rid of the stigma surrounding mental illness?”
Cover: “The End of Dictatorship.” (The four horses of the apocolypse) – Hallucinated horses after surgery 2016.
The Kangaroo Hotel, Maldon Victoria.
Musicians On The Album...
Grant Mathers – Pno
Gary Costello – Bass
Steve Murphy – Sax
Barry Veith – Sax
Tony Hayes – Bass
Brian Jones – Drums
Kevin Simmons – Drum
Dudley Simons – Pno
Ken White – Gtr
Cover By Jon Baldwin
Review by David James...
Two-edged talent gets in for her Chop
The palette of female jazz singing has some intriguing even diametrically opposed elements; cuteness, screams from the earth, plaintiveness, euphoria, amorousness and disgust.
Vocal styles have tended to hover between the smoothness required for the nightclub and the expression of anguish.
Australian artist Suzie Dickinson’s singing is very much immersed in these contraries. Well versed in the dialects of Jazz, Dickinson displays consistent skill in phrasing and nuance, moving from sensuous luxuriation to longing to exuberant swing.
All of Me is especially impressive for its rhythmic flirtations, semi manic scatting and control of dynamics.
Round Midnight is the opposite. Sparse to the point of emptiness and tinged with despair. The playing of the sideman is balanced and well structured.
The singing is most interesting for it’s vacillation between stylistic cliches and personal expression. Dickinson adopts almost a binary approach. Sometimes concentrating on her ‘chops’ (technical ability) as if playing the dramatic role of the overly experienced knowing jazz singer and sometimes providing – almost accidentally – glimpses into a deeper well of sadness.
Written by David James in February 1998 for the Business Review Weekly.
Fred's Song
Music by Fred Grassham
Lyrics by Suzi
Here's That Rainy Day
Grant Mathers -piano
Tony Hayes – bass
Kevin Simmonds – Drums
Steve Murpy – clarinet
Lover Man
Grant Mathers -piano
Gary Costello – bass
Brian Jones – Drums
Barry Veith Tenor Sax
Ken White – Guitar
Round Midnight
In The Dark
Minoan Nights
by Ken White
Gary Costello – Bass
Briuan Jones – Drums
Ken White – Guitar
Head Over Heels
By F. Grassham and Suzi
Grant Mathers
Tony Hayes
Kevin Simmonds
Steve Murphy
When Sunny Gets Blue
Dudley Simons – Piano
Gary Costello
Brian Jones
Barry Veith
Ken White
Harlem Nocturne
Jack and the Beanstalk
Cover Art by Suzi...
4 Horses of the Apocalypse. A painted memory by Suzi of hallucinated horses in recovery after a 6 hour life saving keyhole operation – encouraged by painter John Howley.
Beyond Blues
Painting the Town Red
Live to air 3 CR Melbourne – 1985
Twisted
I'm Hip
Blossom Dearie. I talked to Blossom when she came to Melbourne Live Radio 3CR
An Emily Dickinson verse...
Music written by David James, he sent it to me in 2018. Brett Rosenberg’s exquisite playing was recorded same session at Burwood Studios. Thanks to Lachlan Davidson. Mark Woods recorded the piano track and i sang it – finally recorded 17 September 2020.
All of Me
King Pleasure’s version. recorded at ABC Southbank in 1997.
Grant Mathers – Piano
Barry Veith – Tenor Sax
Brian Jones – Drums
Gary Costello – Bass
I worked with Brian Jones way back in 1967 with Harry Lynn on piano at the Ritz Hotel, St Kilda. Barry, Brian and Gary now playing “the great gig in the sky” . – ref: Pink Floyd
Tears of Joy and Laughter
Written by Lachlan Davidson – with Brett Rosenberg, Piano.
Don't Explain
Performed in 1982 at The Prince of Wales Hotel, St Kilda, with the New York Trio. Norman Simmons – Piano, Rufus Reid – Bass and Kenny Washington playing Drums.
Introduced by singer and Sydney Jazz Radio Show hostess, long time friend Paula Langlands.
Apres Un Reve
By Gabrielle Faure.
Miraculously recorded in 1993 by Musician and exceptional Classical Guitarist and teacher, John Snowden, at Holy Trinity Church, Maldon. The chirch organ played by pianist, jazz and classical, Dudley Simons – I long time resident of Malson.
More
The following are some recordings and performances over the years.
Jack and the Beanstalk
Tears of Joy and Laughter
Written by Lachlan Davidson – with Brett Rosenberg, Piano.
You Don't Know What Love Is
Stormy Weather
I was in amongst the bump and grind, wearing silky gowns and loving it! The famous, fabulous Lido, owned by David McIlwraith, was in Melbourne’s only lavish nightclub which featured (amongst other things) a crystal chandelier, once owned by the Aga Khan, whilst the famous Lido Girls did their thing in pearls ‘n feathers and little else. I would appear with the Ian Mawson Trio, a modern jazz outfit, singing with Ian, Murray Wall and Kevin Simmonds from 10.00pm to 3.00am – it was all very ‘Follies Bergeres’. We opened the restaurant at Tullamarine Airport and stayed a year, loving the international audiences and watching the jets landing at night.
Gary Costello
Suzi
Robert George
Ian Mawson