John Maddox, legendary acoustic bass player of the inner west, and the outer world.  He’s played in every gypsy band in Sydney, in every pug and café.  This is a photo of Tim and John at Mr Falcons just up Glebe Point Rd.

If you came to our Joni Mitchell night, Johnny played last, the beautiful Pork Pie Hat.  I’m hoping he’s going to reprise a couple of the Joni songs this weekend.  But Maddox plays whatever Maddox feels, so we’ll have to wait and see.

facebook.com/John-Maddox-Duo-1462202164088098

At Colbourne Ave, we have a half-arsed kind of tradition where on the anniversary of the first gig we ever put on (it was Bill Risby) we have a jazz tribute night to a pop band. Kind of like Frisell plays Lennon. Or Eckleberg plays Jackson.

It’s Thursday the 25^th of Feb, and we’re doing Joni Mitchell (almost a year since the aneurysm from which she's still recovering). Three songs per musician, no song twice, more interpretations than covers. There will be moments of genius from :

Spike Mason (and Barney Wakeford)
Leonie Cohen
Bonnie Stewart
Jonny Maddox
Bill Risby
Joseph Zarb

and they'll be playing, in chronological order of publication :

And we leave the last work to Chaka Khan, who in an interview a couple of months ago said :

See, Joni Mitchell, she's actually funky, she just doesn't know it, and I'm bringing that forward. The jazz is in there. You get her, but I've slowed a lot of the stuff down because a lot of the lyrics - she's a very fast singer, so sometimes it's hard to catch her words - but I think she's so relevant

The Eye Of Chaos have come from outer space.

These three aliens have decided that Colbourne Ave will be a great opportunity to showcase their take on Earthly music before they take it to the larger audience that is the rest of the world.

The one who is know as John Maddox has incredible powers. He is capable of virtuosic flights of imagination far beyond normal human abilities. He is able to imitate vocalists from any era with an uncanny likeness. One hears the history of bass in a chorus or two of his playing.

Tim Bradley the drummer has unearthly coordination. He of the three is most obviously an alien. His hands are a blur. One could suspect that he is part machine.

Nigel Date is perhaps the leader of the three. Who can tell though? An enigma wrapped in an anomaly within a paradox. He creates sounds out of his guitar that speak of worlds beyond imagining.

This will be history. Be there to say you were.

youtube.com/watch?v=v2BeWKJ25R4

John Maddox, the bass/kazoo player of a hundred bands.  He's played a dozen times at Colbourne Ave, he must have spent hundreds of hours busking on King St, and he's played all over Sydney, Australia and the world with Mr Bamboo, Bellyache Ben, Charlie and the Maddox Factory, Djangoholix, Glitch Jukebox, and so many more.  But until now he has never recorded under his own name.  Come and hear the genius, the inspiration, the amazing, the brilliant, the eccentric, the maestro [i found those words by searching the web for john maddox bass] John Maddox.

yumyumtree.com.au/john-maddox

... and ...

joining him will be one of his most long-term bands, Nadya's 101 Candles Orchestra.  Nadya Golski has led this unique gypsy/jazz/pacific/klezmer band to success throughout Australia and Europe.  Regularly filling the fabulous room at Qirkz, this will be their first appearance at Colbourne Ave.

nadya.com.au

ps check out this Eastside playlist for a few of John's influences

Gadjo Guitars, the gypsy jazz trio featuring Nigel Date, Jose Zarb from Marsala and Cameron Jones all playing Django-style guitar will for this concert also include special guests Daniel Weltlinger (violin) and John Maddox (acoustic bass).  "Gadjo" is a word gypsies have for non-gypsies, and these three guitarists don't have a drop of gypsy blood in their veins - but their hearts are with Django Reinhardt, the famous French gypsy who, despite having two paralysed fingers on his left hand, developed the most original and virtuostic guitar style in the history of jazz.

Nigel Date (guitar) and John Maddox (bass, vocals, kazoo) have been making music together for over 10 years. They have performed at major international festivals including Montreux, Cork Jazz Festival, New Caledonia Gypsy Guitar Festival,  Edinburgh, Wangaratta Jazz Fest, Oz Manouche, Woodford, Bellingen Jazz, Big Day Out and Bay of Islands. They have been at the core of bands such as their own Straight Back Fellows and Peppermint T. Both are in demand for jazz ensembles through to ‘hip hop’ and pop bands.  They make music that is full of humour and flair, always swinging and with great energy.

On this night, they will be joined by two long-time associates, the talented Tim Bradley on drums and Colbourne Ave’s very own piano maestro Barney Wakeford.

The night promises to be an entertaining ride through music history, from American jazz to Cuban rhythms and French gypsy swing as well their own orchestrations and improvisations.

come and discover Sydney’s most unique music space!

featuring:
SPIKE MASON QUARTET
JESS GREEN & THE PRELOVED
THE FANTASTIC TERRIFIC MUNKLE
BRI COWLISHAW

A sculpture by Ian Scott will be on sale for $1000.

Beer from Little Creatures, wine and food for sale.

media enquiries (02) 8013 8219 / 0405 726 753
www.cafechurch.org.au/eightoclocksharp

$20 / $10 lounges, candlelight, tea and coffee - wine, beer, and food available for this night only.

i've seen them playing around the hyde park fountain in the wee hours, busking on king street in the mornings, and opening a music festival.  They are Charlotte Craib (vocals) and John Maddox (Acoustic Bass, Kazoo, Percussion) - a very modern interpretation of depression instrumentation.  Maddox is a long-time member of Nadya's 101 Candles Orchestra, and is a legend on the Jazz / world music scene; Charlotte brings amazingly clever insights into standards from Ella Fitzgerald to Horace Silver and original songs, not always finished.

Barney Wakeford

Long-time collaborator of senor Maddox and one of the people responsible for all of the music we present, Barney presents original compositions (never the same way twice) and the songs of Vince Jones and Chet Baker

The Gumnut Memorial Band:

Barney Wakeford and Johnny Maddox

Two intuitive improvisers who have been playing together for a decade.  Piano, double bass, kazoo, and the unexpected.