Elizabeth Geyer's High 5

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

High 5

Elizabeth Geyer grew up in Adelaide, South Australia. Following a Bachelor of Music Degree (trumpet) she freelanced for many years as a trumpeter supporting artists including James Morrison, Gene Pitney, Tommy Emmanuel, Bobby Shew, Barbara Morrison (USA), Marcia Hines, also touring the USA, playing in the Don Burrows Quintet and with James Morrison and Swing City for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

In 2000, the release of her first self titled album opened up a new career as a jazz singer with subsequent performances at the Manly, Thredbo, Darling Harbour, Newcastle, Canberra, and Adelaide Jazz Festivals along with the River Festival (Brisbane) and at the 2000 Duke of Edinburgh awards. For three years Elizabeth was feature vocalist and trumpet soloist with John Morrison’s Swing City.

Collaborating with award winning songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Tony King in 2004 for her second album ‘The Dream’, marked Elizabeth’s debut as a songwriter with a unique sound of her own. The album has been received with critical acclaim, ongoing ABC airplay, strong national community radio support and has been performed by Elizabeth at the Art Gallery of NSW for exhibitions including the Archibald Prize. In 2005 Elizabeth’s quartet performed a national tour of ‘The Dream’ and in 2006 it’s song ‘You Carry Me Home’ won a top five placing in the Australian Songwriting Contest.

In 2007 she returned from America and Europe where she has been writing and performing extensively at venues including Galli’s Bar, Karma Coffee House, USA Hostel Hollywood and Highland Grounds in Los Angeles, Cafe Tirebouchon in Paris, and New York venues including Yippie Museum, Googies Lounge over The Living Room, Helen’s, Cucina Stagionale with residencies and repeat performances at Caffe Vivaldi and legendary songwriter venue The Bitter End. Read our review of Elizabeth Geyer’s album

‘On Patrol with the Jazz Police’.

1. SCOTT TINKLER BAND – Excelsior Hotel Surry Hills 2006

There is nothing halfway about Scott Tinkler’s trumpet playing, which is what I love most about it. He always takes enormous risks and charges forward blazing. He reminded me that night a bit of a contemporary Freddie Hubbard. I was riveted by every note. I think Carl Dewhurst was on guitar and Simon Barker on drums, so it was an amazing band altogether.

2. RYAN ADAMS – Enmore Theatre, September 2007

I learnt so much from being at this concert. He went on 45 minutes late, blaming his ‘f*n manager’ which was a confronting start. It got me off edge. He didn’t seem to be very happy but his singing was very special, as were the songs and the musicians. I was not familiar with his music prior, but I think he is unforgettably talented.

3. BILL RISBY TRIO – Bithri Inlet, June 2007

Few people know what a unique and innovative artist Bill is because he wears so many musical hats. I saw his trio with Hamish Stuart and Gary Holgate performing the first half of a concert at Bermagui and was mesmerised by their magic rapport. It was a summer afternoon with the venue right on the water. They played as one, taking the whole audience on an unpredictable musical journey with them complete with cliff hangers but never losing sight of beauty or space. I had to shake myself a bit to come back down.

4. DON RADER – Adelaide Festival Theatre, 1994

I was in the backing band for Don Rader who had recently moved to Australia from America and was the feature guest artist. I was completely knocked out by everything he played. He sounded like no trumpet player I had heard - in a way, a mix between Los Angeles - from the excitement/showmanship angle with all the technique of the top session player he is - and New York - dark twisted contrary harmonic turns and ‘blue’ sound. Meeting him for me was an inspiration, and in fact that concert helped my trumpet playing ex-husband and I make the decision to move to Sydney.

5. MACEO PARKER – Monterey Jazz Festival, America 1995

This was an outdoor concert with around five thousand people watching. I am not very familiar with that genre of music but he took total command of the stage from the first second and blew the entire audience away with a rhythm section that grooved harder than I thought was possible. I have never seen a performer command a stage like that, with music, energy and body language - no talking. The energy never sagged for a second. At the end of his 45 minute set, I felt like I’d been to another planet and back.