
The Mouth is easily one of the best live acts in Melbourne at the moment, a must-see (or rather, must-experience) performance
The Mouth is easily one of the best live acts in Melbourne at the moment, a must-see (or rather, must-experience) performance
Danica Hobden’s music is a river. Its headwater is crystal clear and fresh, inviting you to dip your toes in and feel the invigorating coolness, as it flows from its rocky source to the main stem, each chord, each note, each melodic idea a different affluent, constantly moving, collecting leaves and twigs and rocks and sediment, as it flows, hosting new life as it grows deeper.
Another message the festival conveyed was that while in recent years, the jazz world has lost some of the giants of jazz such as Pharoah Sanders, Wayne Shorter, Ellis Marsalis and most recently Quincy Jones, jazz is being revitalised by players such Blanchard and harpist Brandee Younger, singers such as the innovative Jazzmeia Horn and Nicole Zuraitis, and drummers like Antonio Sanchez, who following his well-timed accompaniment to the film Birdman, showcased a dynamite solo.
“Don’t be fooled by what appears to be a conventional chordless quartet; this band sounds more like a deconstructed rock band in slow motion.”
Sounds Australia and the Australian Music Centre now host a dedicated Australian booth at jazzahead!, and coordinate a range of activities for Australian delegates who make their way to Bremen.
For DiMattina, Stella is a labour of love, and her fascination and admiration for Franklin show through.
Xani is a virtuoso musician who sees no boundaries in music. At times during the concert, she tapped a rhythm on her violin; other times, used her fingers along the strings to find the exact effect she wanted.
Jazzmeia Horn’s scatting is like nothing I’ve ever heard — her originality of interpretation transcends.
The audience was treated to Kurt Elling’s distinctive, creative vocalese, punctuated by the scintillating lyrical embellishments of guitarist Charlie Hunter as well as his masterful solos. It was a case of dual sheer artistry.