“Portuguese music is there not because I put it there intentionally, but because I’m from Portugal; then I have a little of American folk, because my dad used to listen to a lot of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell; then I went on my own and I started listening to my own music and I started finding other things, getting more into the jazz world, and I mean instrumental jazz. Now I’m a bit far away from jazz, but still all the things that I listen to during my life are there.”
Author: Nikolas Fotakis
“My goal with the Jazz Melbourne Orchestra is to create a world class big band in Melbourne that performs regularly at larger concert hall style venues.”
“We’ve had people come up to us at gigs and tell us they hate Jazz, but they love our music. It’s nice to change people’s perspectives.”
It’s going to be a concert for everyone. We’re going to be playing some music that we perform well at the moment – it’s really hard hitting but also very, very acceptable music that everyone seems to love. It’s family friendly and cutting edge without being egotistical and too intellectual; just music that you can really have fun and listen to.”
“Music is definitely the best tool that we have to bring peace and form bridges among cultures and nations, joining us together as one whole family.”
To say that drummer Kyrie Anderson and bassist Alana Dawes create a firm backbone that allows singer and bandleader Kate Fuller to shine, singing with clarity and confidence, would be an understatement.
We often talk about Melbourne’s vibrant jazz scene – well, here’s the thing: Tamara Murphy is one of the pillars of the scene, a wonderfull […] Read More
“I want to write and perform music which inspires and challenges me, the other musicians, and the audience. I think that has stayed the same and hope that we can achieve this on some level.”
“My favourite moment to date was the first time SHAYAN played as a seven-piece. It wasn’t about playing a festival, or the people in the crowd, but about hearing the compositions played live for the first time by these incredible players. There is something so special about hearing the dots on the page turn into actual music, especially when it is played by great musicians.”
“It’s only now, 18 months on, that I’m starting to realise the impact this album has had on people. The album has been played in the delivery suite as a baby is born numerous times, and also in the final hours of a person’s life. It is so incredibly moving to know that my music has a place in these extremely personal moments. I cry just thinking about it.”