Page 53 - Tropic Magazine Issue 29

TROPIC • MUSIC

JC’s jazz revival

LOCAL ARTIST
Tropic sat down with JC Stylles, one of his shows – two shows a night
a Cairns local turned New York for a week,” he said. “I decided I couldn’t So we got engaged three weeks after, and
jazz performer, club manager really come back to Kuranda after that.” it’s now been 28 years.”
Jason – by this point known as his artist
JC and his wife Daria then made New
and master instrumentalist. name, JC – then spent about a decade in York home, where he managed two
Sydney developing his style and craft with jazz clubs on the same block, as well as
Words: Annabel Bowles a guitar. produced, recorded and performed his
Not many would say they were a jazz fan own music for over two decades.
in their early years, but Jason Campbell His latest album Blakey Grease won an
was hooked on its grooves and ballads by award for highest debut at #15 on the USA
the time he was 13. Jazz Charts Top 50, before climbing into
However there was one problem. The New York is the the Top 5 and being played across USA
genre was almost non-existent in Cairns
in the early 80s, and live jazz shows (much international jazz capital. radio waves for over 15 weeks.
Like many expats, JC and his family
like today) were few and far between. So It’s where the greatest came back to Australia at the onset of
after a few years’ spent dabbling in music COVID-19, settling in his home city of
at Trinity Beach and Cairns State high players gravitate towards Cairns. A year onwards, he’s ready to
schools, the Kuranda teen decided to bring a taste of Harlem to the
go to Sydney. JC Stylles Tropical North.
What was supposed to be a two-week trip JC Stylles is set to play at Miss Chief on
to see George Benson, one of America’s Saturday 15 May, bringing “a little bit
greatest jazz performers, turned into At 27-years-old, he booked a one-way of soul, blues and boogaloo vibes” to an
Jason’s first career-defining decision. flight to New York. “I had to get into the intimate crowd of 60 guests. “I’ve still
“I got to meet George after going to every middle of the main jazz environment got nearly 20 years of New York inside of
to associate with the level of artistry me that’s got to come out somewhere,”
I was after, as that’s really when you he said. “Jazz is a careful consideration
start to learn,” JC said. “New York is the of tunes, of tempo, all sorts of elements
international jazz capital. It’s where the bring it together. It’s a different
greatest players gravitate towards, and experience, culturally, musically, and
where the greatest number of clubs are something that doesn’t currently exist
available for performers to play. Someone enough in Cairns. “It’s music that make
gave me a tip to stay at Hotel 17, about you feel better for having heard it.”
150 yards from a club called Fat Tuesday. Tickets to JC Stylles’ Harlem Night at Miss
I went there every night and watched the Chief are available on Eventbrite.
world’s greatest jazz shows. About a week
later I met a woman and we got on so well MORE: jcstylles.com
we agreed we should get married.

53 • tropicnow.com.au