Cesar Rodrigues (guitar, laptop, 9V units, loops and samples)
Monty Mackenzie (alto sax, loops)

Wednesday 23 April, 7.30pm

Northcote Uniting Church

$12/10

Harmless combine acoustic, electronic and found sounds to create sonic landscapes, whilst remaining faithful to their improvisational and instrumental roots. Their extensive field recordings are played as samples in their performances and rehearsals which are often recorded, re sampled, and thrown back out in proceeding performances to create a deep and unique tapestry of timbre and texture.

Cesar Rodrigues is Melbourne based guitarist/composer/producer who began his musical journey listening to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in the back seat of the family car. He picked up the guitar for the first time at the age of 16, and since then has completed an adv dip in music performance and a BA in Music Performance. He has studied with some of the countries leading performers and educaters including Stephen Magnusson, Geoff Hughes, Ashleigh Cross, Andrea Keller, Adrian Sheriff, and Robert Vincs. Cesar is essentially an improvising musician, though has also been involved in the Experimental, Jazz, Pop, Hip Hop, RnB, and Soul idioms. He has worked with some of Melbourne’s best musicians in the jazz scene and beyond including Scott Tinkler, Andrew Gander, Joe Talia, as well as Ella and Jesse Hooper, Phoenix Lake, and Rhonda Burchmore. Cesar has had extensive experience as band leader in such acts as, Ctrl Alt Dlt, Cesar Rodrigues Quartet, Lethalogica, and Harmless. He is also a major contributer to bands like Flow And Plenty, and Monsoon Moon as guitarist and has co production credits and songwriting credits with both bands. Cesar has also composed music for various documentaries, Short and Feature Films, including “Without A Shadow” which was nominated for best original score at the “Queensland New Film Awards” in 2007. He has Produced/Engineered music for acts such as String Theory, John Patterson Trio, Joe Talia, Cleverhorse, Hailey Cramer, Kate Vigo and much more. Cesar continues to explore music at its boundaries and various other musical styles…

Monty Mackenzie is a local saxophonist that began playing the instrument after being inspired by buskers on the streets of New Orleans while on a family holiday. He has completed an Advanced Diploma of Music at Box Hill College of Tafe, as well as a Bachelor of Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts. During his time completing these courses Monty has studied under musicians such as Jamie Oehlers, Julien Wilson, Tony Buchanan and Adrian Sheriff. Apart from Harmless, Monty has performed around Melbourne with artists and groups such as Cleverhorse, Nathan Slater quintet, Hailey Crammer, Ctrl Alt Dlt, Cesar Rodrigues Quartet, Paul Grabowski, Flow and Plenty, John Patterson and many more. Monty has also been involved in festivals such as Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festivals, The Melbourne Electric jazz Festival and The Half Bent Music Festival.