Phil Stack was one of the hardest working musicians at Granite Town - jumping on stage with no less than four acts - but the Thirsty Merc star says he’s coming back for more.
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The bassist and Thirsty Merc founding member has added his voice to those applauding a festival that celebrated live music.
Stack played back-to-back gigs, lending a hand to Katie Noonan, The Strides and Alice Terry.
Some appearances were prearranged, others spontanous.
Moruya’s Alice Terry hails him as Australia’s best bass player and, in jazz circles Stack stacks up.
This week, he was still recovering, but said he would return to Granite Town.
“I thought it was actually a hip program, and not just because I was on a lot of it,” Stack laughed.
“The variety was all quality, interesting and different.”
Stack has played with Australian trumpet legend James Morrison, rock band You Am I, as well as the Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney symphony orchestras.
Stack said the lineup selection was clever and musical director Ginny Quirk should not listen to critics who said “that’s not jazz”.
“Some jazz purists might say ‘that’s not jazz’, but that’s not what jazz festivals are these days,” Stack said.
“If you look at the Blues Festival - they aren’t blues acts.
“Come on, Powderfinger are not blues!
“On the contrary, if you look at all the headlining acts at Granite Town, their musical past and present are deeply rooted in jazz.
“Obviously Emma Pask and Alice Terry, but the Strides guys are all jazz players, all the Thirsty guys are jazz players.
“I think it was kinda clever how it was booked and I like that.
“It means the spirit of jazz, blues and funk was at the festival and I reckon that’s a hip way to program.
“They did a really great job.”
Phil Stack is working on his own solo album “Lap Around The Sun”, due for release later this year.