The Necks at 25
a changing same?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/prbt.v14i1.55Keywords:
Australian jazz, improvised music, UK jazz criticism, US jazz criticismAbstract
This article argues that the Sydney-based jazz improvisers The Necks have pursued a successful career over 25 years despite the scathing review given them by prominent US jazz critic John Litweiler, and that contrary to Litweiler’s account, they in fact form part of a continuing tradition (a ‘changing same’) in jazz started by Miles Davis’s album Kind of Blue. The article consists mostly of a discussion between the author and group members Chris Abrahams and Lloyd Swanton.
References
Burns, Ken. 2001. Jazz: The Story of American Music. PBS Home Video DVD.
Clare, John. 1995. Bodgie dada and the Cult of Cool. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.
Dyer, Geoff. 2007. ‘Living with Music: A Playlist’. New York Times, 18 July.
Jones, Leroi. 1998 [1968]. Black Music. New York: Da Capo.
Litweiler, John. 1984. The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958. New York: Da Capo.
——2009. ‘The Necks in North America’, 3 February. SIMA website. http://www.sima.org.au/Home/630/n/3/0/0/ (accessed 12 March 2010).
Shand, John. 2009. Jazz: The Australian Accent. Sydney: UNSW Press.
Swanton, Lloyd. 2009. ‘Lloyd Swanton Replies to John Litweiler’, 17 March. SIMA website. http://www.sima.org.au/Home/630/n/3/0/0/ (accessed 12 March 2010).
Walters, John L. 2002. ‘Eureka!’ The Guardian, 29 November.
Whiteoak, John. 1999. Playing Ad Lib: Improvisatory Music in Australia 1836–1970. Sydney: Currency Press.
——2009. ‘Improvisation and Popular Music’. In Sounds of Then, Sounds of Now: Popular Music in Australia, ed. Shane Homan and Tony Mitchell, 37–60. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.
Williams. Richard. 2009. The Blue Moment: Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music. London: Faber.
Clare, John. 1995. Bodgie dada and the Cult of Cool. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.
Dyer, Geoff. 2007. ‘Living with Music: A Playlist’. New York Times, 18 July.
Jones, Leroi. 1998 [1968]. Black Music. New York: Da Capo.
Litweiler, John. 1984. The Freedom Principle: Jazz After 1958. New York: Da Capo.
——2009. ‘The Necks in North America’, 3 February. SIMA website. http://www.sima.org.au/Home/630/n/3/0/0/ (accessed 12 March 2010).
Shand, John. 2009. Jazz: The Australian Accent. Sydney: UNSW Press.
Swanton, Lloyd. 2009. ‘Lloyd Swanton Replies to John Litweiler’, 17 March. SIMA website. http://www.sima.org.au/Home/630/n/3/0/0/ (accessed 12 March 2010).
Walters, John L. 2002. ‘Eureka!’ The Guardian, 29 November.
Whiteoak, John. 1999. Playing Ad Lib: Improvisatory Music in Australia 1836–1970. Sydney: Currency Press.
——2009. ‘Improvisation and Popular Music’. In Sounds of Then, Sounds of Now: Popular Music in Australia, ed. Shane Homan and Tony Mitchell, 37–60. Hobart: Australian Clearinghouse for Youth Studies.
Williams. Richard. 2009. The Blue Moment: Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue and the Remaking of Modern Music. London: Faber.
Published
2013-10-18
Issue
Section
Articles
How to Cite
Mitchell, T. (2013). The Necks at 25: a changing same?. Perfect Beat, 14(1), 55-77. https://doi.org/10.1558/prbt.v14i1.55
