★★★★½ Drummer James McLean wins the annual award for jazz musicians.

The Studio, Sydney Opera House
August 1, 2016

Once more the Freedman Jazz Fellowship final night, and once more an event to remember for the standard of performances and of course the splendour of its situation. The Opera House Studio is undoubtedly one of the outstanding acoustic spaces in Australia and one in which it is possible to slip out at interval and absorb a nightscape that perfectly complements the sonic unfoldings within.

As it happens all three finalists led trios and this led to intriguing comparisons rather than uniformity. One group was a piano trio in the jazz sense – led by contestant Joseph O’Connor with Marty Holoubeck, bass, and James McLean, drums. One other was led by drummer James McLean and included guitarist Alistair McLean and bassist Christopher Hale, while pianist Luke Sweeting’s trio incorporated a drummer, James Waples, but no bassist – trumpeter Reuben Lewis supplying a second melodic voice, and an intriguing one.

All groups worked with large silences and sonorities, amongst other elements. Opening contestant Joseph O’Connor included an unaccompanied piece called Madrigal that was perhaps symbolic of the classical influence that appeared in all groups (and was counterpoised...