On Saturday July 19 the very cool John Harkins will assemble a jazz trio to perform at the SSH Winter Fundraiser at the South Sydney Uniting Church in Waterloo. The SSH is excited to announce that guest vocalist for the set will be Grace Chung.
Could you please remind our readers of the particular jazz influences that have shaped your sound?
JH: The people who have influenced and shaped my sound are many. Here are but a few: Hank Jones, Tony Flanagan, Cedar Walton, Nat King Cole, Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly … and all the other great, swinging creative jazz musicians. Other strong influences have been Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Boz Scaggs, Kenny Rankin and Jose Feliciano.
What makes each performance distinctive and most enjoyable for you? What sort of audience response and/or interaction do you most enjoy?
Each performance is distinctive to me simply because it’s another chance to enjoy the gift of life. Music is a pliable thing in the same way our moods change as humans. Some days, it’s exciting, others are more pensive. It’s important as a jazz musician to be able to bring these different moods and feelings to the gig.
Who do you see as most exciting among the younger generations of musicians on the scene?
There are many exciting young players. Locally, I like bassist Alex Boneham, pianist Steve Barry, drummer Tim Geldens, trumpeter Cam McCallister.
