Do you live in Canberra and like jazz?
Then you should see Liv Uebergang, one of Canberra’s most talented jazz guitarists, play throughout the Canberra jazz scene. After winning a scholarship to the Australian National University (ANU) for the Friends of the School of Music, Liv has had a passion for jazz ever since. Playing gigs and teaching guitar is Liv's livelihood, she was able to make her passion for music a career. Though that passion and music comes at a cost, if you are sick or don't feel up to it that day, you don’t get paid. This shows a dedication and a passion that she has, to continue in a field that does not benefit her as much as a nine-five.
Liv started off playing the piano and then later moved onto the clarinet, which she loved, but to challenge herself, her father told her to start playing the guitar. To which she started playing 2-3 hours a day, in mid-year 11 she became a jazz fanatic, and in year 12 she won a scholarship to ANU after only playing jazz for a little over a year.
Liv has had many mentors and teachers throughout her jazz career, but one has been with her since her first year at ANU: Greg Stott. He has been an encouraging voice for women in jazz and has helped guide her throughout her career.
Liv is an accomplished woman in jazz, but that’s not all she is; she is incredibly dedicated to her work. As a woman in a predominantly male environment, at the beginning Liv felt she had to work twice as hard to be seen as jazz musician, rather than a woman in jazz. When she started at ANU there were four women who played instruments as well as her in the three years. Liv teaches at schools such as Merici, Emmaus as well as an ensemble at ANU. She and her band, 'The Uebergang' play four-five gigs a month, as the bars are not hopping as much at the moment, due to the road works in the city. She has a regular gig at Gang Gang, on the first Friday of every month, and has a lovely community that follows her.
Canberra has an intimate jazz scene, and as Liv says, ‘the joy of jazz is how easy it is to play with different groups and people’. Even so, she plays predominantly with drummer Sean Kirk and bassist Harrison Whalan. Together, they call themselves 'The Uebergang'.
I had the privilege of seeing Liv Uebergang and her band play at the Jazz Festival, held at Smiths Alternative. They played a forty-minute set, which involved some of their own music, (such as ‘Dead Dog’ written by Liv Uebergang), as well as catchy songs such as Toxic by Britney Spears, which had the crowd engulfed in their performance. The atmosphere was lovely as everyone was engaged in their performance, and as Liv is a good speaker and performer. Harry and Sean did an incredible job, with a few solos and original music. You can tell as Liv preforms that she enjoys it and loves what she does, as her body moves and her head softy nods.
Catch ‘The Uebergang’ around Canberra, with their monthly gig at Gang Gang, and follow their Instagram @the.ueber.gang to stay up to date!