The cool, air-conditioned breeze hit me as I entered the gigantic doors of The Abbey on Sunday night. It was a refreshing change from the heat that had to be endured whilst being outside.

Firstly, let’s talk about the venue. The Abbey provides an intimate, classy experience. The tall ceilings allow for incredible acoustics that ring throughout the hall. Add in the candlelit tables and balcony seating and you’ve got yourself one hell of a nice place to spend your evening. As the crowd poured in, well dressed and excited, I couldn’t escape the strange feeling that everyone in the room seemed to know each other. It didn’t take long to realize most of the people in the crowd were either from, or relatives of those from the School of Music, now known as the ANU School of Music.

Though naïve to the scene, I’m a music lover at heart and was looking forward to hearing something a little different. Being new to the jazz scene, I simply opened my mind and my ears to a new genre of music, and was excited to see some local talent.

By the time Jess Pollard took the stage, the place was full. Wine glasses clinked, laughter echoed to the ceiling, and phones on the tables hummed with activity. People were clambering for any spare seats, and the organisers even brought out a few cushions to scatter around the place for any extra bums to be parked on.

With only a keyboardist for accompaniment, Jess‘ voice shone throughout the hall beautifully as she projected her voice like a pro. Her soft, strong tone stopped the crowd and silenced the room. Each song was met with enthusiastic applause, and the young singer graciously accepted all that the crowd was giving back to her. After retelling how her and Liam Budge, AKA Butcher, met at a retreat in Mt Gambier and how excited she was to be playing with him again, she finished her delightful set with a song she claimed he specifically requested. After thanking the crowd once more, she departed the stage and left the audience to mingle and grab refreshments.

A few minutes later, the band presented themselves onstage. The crowd leapt into applause as the well-dressed, shaggy haired Butcher made his way to the microphone. Bare feet and all, like a yogi to the mat, Liam’s voice made it’s way to the rear balcony of the venue, to the applaud of the eager crowd. A few songs in, I began to wrap my head around all that is ‘jazz’. Strange time signatures, drum solos, vocal melodies that rise and fall rapidly and intense bursts of musical fusion followed by soft, quiet whispers. It was cool.

Liam seemed more than happy to let his band do most of the talking. And why wouldn’t he? They were freakin’ awesome – the drummer being the stand out performer of the night for me. Each song lent itself to guitar, double bass, drum and trumpet solos. At which time, Budge would close his eyes and wander around the stage nodding his head, glass of water in hand and ‘lose himself’ in the music. I guess it’s a jazz thing. All in all, it really was a solid 60 minute set; well prepared for and delivered nicely, if not a little over the top.

Props to the young performer and his band, the night certainly belonged to them. Liam’s fans, friends and family came out in full support of the release of his album. Despite my jazz naivety, I had a good time and learnt a thing or two. The crowd seemed more than pleased and I couldn’t help but notice all the smiling faces as I exited the venue. It was a great way to spend a warm Sunday night, and I left the Abbey feeling entertained and as though I’d gone up a few notches on my culture belt than from when I arrived.