John Sangster – Australia And All That Jazz VG+/VG+

Australia and All That Jazz shows John Sangster at his most playful, expansive, and quietly visionary, using the idea of “Australian identity” not as a theme to illustrate but as a springboard for colour, humour, and wide‑open ensemble writing. The music feels like a conversation between big‑band swing, cool‑school subtlety, and Sangster’s own wry, melodic sensibility—arrangements that glide rather than shout, full of unexpected voicings, gentle rhythmic turns, and that unmistakable lightness he brought to even the densest textures. There’s a cinematic quality to the suite‑like flow: pieces shift from breezy pastoral moods to sly, urban shuffle, always with a sense of curiosity and craft. What gives the album its charm is Sangster’s ability to make sophistication feel effortless; the writing is intricate, but the atmosphere is warm, witty, and deeply Australian in its relaxed confidence. It stands as one of his most inviting and characterful works.