Paul Grabowsky in the court of Catharine the Great

Paul Grabowsky, ever the restless master, is heading to the National Gallery of Victoria this Friday. The pianist and his trio (with tenor saxophonist Mirko Guerrini and drummer Niko Schauble) are opening the popular Friday Nights at NGV series. Anyone who’s been to this regular event can attest that it is a great initiative: at Friday Nights at NGV, visitors can enjoy after-hours access to the gallery and enjoy  live performances, DJs, pop-up talks and a range of food and dining options in the Great Hall.

Given that the current exhibition is “the Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great”, drawing  from the personal collection of the legendary empress of all the Russias, it’s fitting that the series would start with an artist of Paul Grabowsky’s caliber, followed by a DJ set by Darcy Baylis. More than 500 works have travelled to Australia, including outstanding works by Rembrandt, Velasquez, Rubens and Titian – breathtaking works of art and artefacts of exquisite luxury create the perfect setting for the popular music series, calling for artists that can start a dialogue with the exhibition. The series “creates a lively and dynamic atmosphere at the NGV”, says its Director, Tony Ellwood, inviting art lovers to visit the Gallery, meet with friends and enjoy the exhibition after-hours, along with DJs, pop-up talks, bars and dining.

One of the pillars of the contemporary Australian jazz scene, Paul Grabowsky was the founding artistic director of the acclaimed Australian Art Orchestra. On Friday, his trio will perform his innovative, enlightening work as well as some jazz standards – with a refreshing twist, of course.