Two interviews with Marc Hannaford who is currently touring Australia with his New York Trio. In the first one, the brilliant pianist talks about his life in New York, and his current musical pursuit. In the second, he remembers his trio with Allan Browne and Sam Pankhust, documented in the album Monday Dates.
“We’re trying to convey the heart of Australia with dream-like sequences alongside landscape depictions and animal mimicry, and echoes of tribal lores, drawing on a myriad musical influences and aiming to create a unique and authentic soundscape.”
New York-based, Cuban pianist/composer Elio Villafranca is coming to Melbourne for the first time this June. Performing his Grammy-nominated suite Cinque with a dynamic 10-piece Afro-Cuban Orchestra, Villafranca will appear in the-round at the Night Cat on Saturday 8th June (9.00pm) in collaboration with Adrian Medina’s new immersive music/cinematic fusion.
“When you meet artists from different countries, they’re almost always keen to chat, play and experiment. I think the musical training and experiences that many jazz musicians have allows them to interact with musicians from lots of different cultural and musical backgrounds and get something fun happening.”
“The mindset for me is to serve and support and honor the song and the musicians I play with. But mostly to follow the purpose of the song. To be fully present in every word and every breath.”
“I like to sing songs that have elements of politics, social condition, environmental issues, generally songs that reflect the human condition.”
Dan Tepfer: “Well, when we really commit to improvisation (the word literally means ‘unforeseen’), we commit to listening hard, with a certain kind of humility. We leave ourselves open to the spirit of discovery, to epiphanies that are specific to that moment in time.”
People say of Bill Frisell that he reinvented the way people think about the electric guitar. That’s possibly an understatement.
“SUM is me, who I am as an artist and human being; it has my flaws and strength,” says drummer and composer Steve Belvilus, talking about the signature soul-jazz-RnB sound he has created.
