Of Deities and Demons grew directly out of AAO Artistic Director Peter Knight’s meeting with drummer and Baliphonics leader Samudi Suraweera during a visit Knight made to Sri Lanka. The conversations and the friendship that grew between these two musicians led to the idea of meshing the experimental inclinations of the AAO with the yak bera (demon drum), and other traditional instruments of Sri Lanka.
But of course, this is a band overflowing with imaginative musicians. Jenny Eriksson’s electric viola da gamba is the anchor around which the good ship Elysian Fields sails. She was clearly enjoying herself onstage, relaxed and on fire.
Elly Hoyt has harnessed the power and beauty of music, not simply for its own sake, but to give voice to those we have heard far too little from.
I have had the good fortune to make it to Jazz in Marciac a number of times, including 2019. This is some of what I experienced in the Chapiteau.
The Outsider reflects an on-going commitment to building a body of work intent on exploring the great tradition of the piano trio, as epitomized by the work of artists such as Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldau, the Esbojrn Svensson Trio, or The Necks.
Leading a well-oiled machine of an ensemble, featuring Ricki Malet on trumpet, Harry Mitchell on the keys, Zac Grafton on bass and Ben Vanderwal on drums, Jamie Oehlers presents yet another collection of memorable tunes, delivered with passion, urgency and vigour.
Highlights included Morrison and Elling matching each other note for note on trumpet and vocalese on ‘Did You Call Her Today’, a stunning sax solo from Roberts on ‘September In The Rain’, and a superb rendition of ‘Nature Boy’ from the entire ensemble.
A cohort of inspired, inspiring women took to the stage, one by one sending out a War Cry, singing songs of Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln and Sharon Jones – along with their own originals, all songs that describe what it means to struggle, to fight back, to do your bit to create social change, one note at a time, one verse at a time.
Following thousands of jazz events taking place in 195 countries around the world, International Jazz Day 2019 came to a thrilling closein Melbourne, Australia with an extraordinary All-Star Global Concert at Melbourne Arts Centre’s renowned Hamer Hall.
The Melbourne Jazz Roots Festival marks a welcome addition to the annual jazz festival calendar
