Formed by Melbourne jazz guitarist and composer John Scurry more than fifteen years ago, Reverse Swing will be performing at the Geelong Jazz and Blues Festival featuring musicians Eugene Ball (trumpet), Phil Noy (saxophone), Matt Boden (keyboard) and Howard Cairns (double bass).

Reverse Swing has released three albums of original music composed by Scurry to critical acclaim (Post Matinee, Early Risers, and Aerogramme). American jazz reviewer Michael Steinman describes Reverse Swing as “quietly, subversively remarkable” with “each song complete and shapely: a painting or photograph in itself”.

John Scurry has played in numerous groups locally and internationally over many decades.

Of Early Risers, Australian music writer, John Shand describes the music as “rooted in the familiarity of pre-bebop jazz, but much more is in play than just a fine mist of nostalgia. The melodies can be hugely engaging, as can the arrangements…while the solos are apt and smile-inducing”.

Scurry, whilst composing a good part of the band’s repertoire, Eugene Ball has also been integral to the band’s sound, arrangements, horn and otherwise.

Jazz critic Eric Myers, writing about Early Risers, describes Scurry’s music as “Ellingtonian”. Reflecting on Aerogramme, he notes that “the band includes unabashed traditionalists, so much of the music has the flavour of pre-bebop. Scurry’s music palpably transcends normal categories.”

And journalist Gideon Haigh says: ‘Aerogramme is what you get when talent blends with experience, seriousness with fun. Out comes the sound of art.