And what a band – all Hunter cohorts from many a gig, all entirely familiar with his body of work and with these particular works; and all entirely in tune with the spirit that drives this remarkable music: Andrew Gander on drums, Matt McMahon on keys and Matt Keegan on tenor and soprano.
Few players – though brilliant on paper – could make something this good out of such freedom. Chops alone can’t do it – in fact chops often work in the opposite way. It is the subsuming of the ego and the meshing of consciousnesses that will get the players, and we the fortunate audience, there. And, here, The Hunters & Pointers do it every time.
Milman’s pieces tend to ride on slippery Afro and Latin grooves, have inbuilt airiness and be laced with lyrical melodies. Who better to breathe life into such material than Bukovsky (trumpet, flugelhorn), James Greening (trombone, trumpet, pocket trumpet), Jeremy Sawkins (guitars), Alister Spence (piano) and Fabian Hevia (drums, percussion)?
“Like all art, the poem creates a space of its own and it is from within that space that it has inspired other artists of all kinds, including (lucky for us) Allan Browne and via him, the Allan Browne Quintet.”
“Over an eleven day period, I’d seen a lot of jazz, a lot of great jazz. I missed a lot too, such is the extent of the festival’s program. ” Greg Phillips gives us a considered overview of the textured 2014 Stonnington Jazz Festival
What you can also hear is Daniel Susnjar’s easy dexterity and his knack of playing right inside the music.
What Felucca’s CD itself reminded me was that jazz, as a contemporary music, is being fed constantly by many influences, with the interesting paradox that many, if not most, younger jazz musicians can be more open to these influences and ideas than some in their audiences.
Alluvium (Alluvium Records) May 2014 Tiny Hearts Review by Mick Paddon Jazz and improvised music is performed in a wide variety of combinations of instruments […] Read More
The most dynamic hub of the festival was to be found at the The Jazz Quarter in Brookfield Place. Three stages set amidst a thriving small bar scene encompassing several styles from some of our favourite locals.
This second Perth International Jazz Festival (PIJF) commencing Friday 9th and concluding Sunday 11th May seemed to be an unqualified success. If key indicators included engaging the populace, developing on last year’s inaugural festival, presenting a variety of styles and venues, presenting music more challenging and innovative than may be heard in Perth on a weekly basis then all boxes could be ticked.
