Michael Slater: ‘Octave Inc like to get loud’

We play big, honking sets and we wanted to recreate that as much as possible in the studio.

Asha Henfry: “I can play soaring melodies one minute and grungy rhythms the next”

“Choro is a conversation. Think of chamber music in a jazz style. It is often fast, heavily rhythmic and spontaneous. Melodies will weave in and out.”

Review: Frank Gambale @ Bird’s Basement

While Frank Gambale regularly unleashed a dazzling torrent of notes, the quality that lingered in my mind after the show was the melodic instinct that underpinned so much of his work.

Anea Duratovic: ‘It feels wonderful being back in Australia’

“What I noticed most about the London jazz scene is just how large it is. But it is a city home to just over eight million people, so that is to be expected. This obviously leads to more competition, and unfortunately, musicians undercutting fees. It made me realise that we have a very unique and wonderful jazz scene in Perth – and Australia in general. Everyone is very supportive of each other in Perth, and musicians here know the base rate expected for performances/functions.”

Cathrine Summers’s autobiographical playlist

Cathrine Summers: “My favourite journey is life – bit heavy, I know – and I reckon ‘The Best Things In Life Are Free’ is a massive favourite.”

Melissa Aldana: “Music transcends genders and cultures”

“Jazz is the way I have to express what I feel, and the way I get to know more about myself.”

Niran Dasika: “I like to imagine my albums as fantastical creatures”

“I set out with the goal to make a standard jazz trumpet quartet album, but my intention from the beginning was to fail, and in that we succeeded far better than I hoped. The result is something pretty special and I feel proud to call it my own music!”