extempore

extempore is a bi-annual Australian journal of writing and art inspired by jazz and improvised music.

A new issue hits the shelves each May and November… interviews, essays, fiction, poetry, photographs and illustrations. All themed around the music. They call me brave. That makes me nervous…

Issue 3 features an in-depth essay about ECM, perhaps the most prestigious independent recording label in the world and the vision of one man. That man—the reclusive Manfred Eicher—gives a rare interview to John Shand, as part of an extensive ECM retrospective in words and pictures.

From our own shores we talk to some of Australia’s favourite jazz singers including the hipper-than-hip Vince Jones and songbird Katie Noonan. And continuing a trend of ignoring boundaries between musical genres while staying aligned to journal editor’s main love—jazz and improvised music—essays by Amanda Hodder and Helen O’Brien explore the relationship between classical music and jazz. And yes, there’s more… including a CD from Jazzhead Records.

Issue 1 includes interviews with Sandy Evans, Paul Grabowsky, Aaron Flower, Shannon Barnett, Jim McLeod; fiction by the winners of the National Jazz Writing Competition; poetry by Geoff Page, Lynn Hard, PS Cottier and more; prints by John Ryrie; photographs by Natasha Blankfield, Mark Peterson and Jo Blair; essays by John Shand, Peter Jordan and Sascha Feinstein; verbatim pieces by John Clare & Tony Gorman; bonus CD of tracks by Kimnara Records.

Issue 2 includes interviews with Mike Nock, Judy Bailey, Scott Tinkler, Art Pepper; fiction by Mandy Sayer and Elisabeth Rose; poetry by Ken Bolton, Pi Oh, Rai Thistlethwayte, Geoff Page and more; photographs by Jane March, Gerard Anderson and Mark Peterson; essays by Andrew W Hurley, Melissa Bellanta and Sascha Feinstein; verbatim pieces by Andrew Lindsay, John Clare, Keith Hounslow and Adrian Jackson; bonus CD of tracks by Birdland Records.