Ground to Ground

A big shoutout to Bob Sedergreen and friends from the wonderful Southside Jazz room at Elsternwick Classic. The ensemble treated a packed 40+ crowd to a night of beautiful music and camaraderie.

The group was led by veteran pianist Bob Sedergreen, with Haydn Murtagh on the double bass, Mark Voogd on the drums, trumpet and occasional vocals of Paul Coyle and Mal Sedergreen on the saxophone. 

I’ve indulged in the talents of Bob about half a dozen times over the years, both at the Southside and Lido jazz rooms. This was the first time we had been treated to the voice and brass of Paul Coyle, which amazingly took until now to experience. Paul’s voice sounds like smooth caramel and cream poured over a cold coffee cake tastes. He is a also music teacher at Kilvington Grammar School!

Any sympathetic pairing of brass instruments in a jazz setting lifts the overall performance. Most commonly I see clarinet and trumpet (or is that most memorably?), less so the trumpet and sax. The combination was delightful regardless. Mal is an accomplished musician and delivered us John Coltrane standards with delightful ease. There was plenty of audience participation in the receiving and giving of good vibrations, through our grateful applause, the clinking of wine glasses and coffee cups, the munching of salted nuts and chips.

These passionate and skilled performers shared through their music an emersion into the pool of joyful life. Long live jazz.