NEW EXCHANGE AT THE LAZYBONES LOUNGE


Listening to live music is a real treat when it is performed with the skill and enthusiasm that New Exchange displayed at the quirky Lazybones Lounge in Marrickville.

New Exchange were performing on the idiosyncratic Level 1, which still has an oddball collection of chairs and a lounge, Japanese inspired murals on the ceiling, extravagantly moulded cornices and plush velvet drapes. The three piece band was tucked away in an alcove and somehow managed a brilliant sound mix that had the instruments clear and separate, allowing the audience to hear them playing off against each other or dynamically fusing together.

Saxophonist Patrick Lefevre is the impressive front man for New Exchange and is wonderfully supported by Aidan Efron on double bass and Alex Keser sitting in on drums. They played some jazz standards from the likes of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane and somehow the sparse trio managed to create a sound that filled the room and evoked performances and venues from other eras. Another artist featured was the American composer Carla Bley.

Equally impressive were their own compositions. Some were written by individuals in the group and others were written jointly. They had a different feel to the covers performed but came from similar jazz aesthetic. They fitted well in the program and added variety and freshness.

The New Exchange members are recent graduates of the James Morrison Academy. The band has toured nationally and performed alongside Mr Morrison and other Australian jazz icons on many occasions, including at the Sydney Opera House.

At their Lazybones Lounge gig they displayed a sumptuous range of skills and styles. I liked how they added variety by switching between sticks and brushes when drumming, bowing or plucking the bass and growling and bending notes on the sax. It added to the complexity of the performance.

Having missed out on so much live music over the last two years, the audience and the performers were all grateful to be out and enjoying quality jazz in a delightful venue.  There is one more opportunity to catch them in Sydney while they are on their east coast tour.

See https://newexchangeband.wixsite.com/home