Gian Slater


GONE, WITHOUT SAYING

‘Gone, without saying’ is a brand new work by singer/improviser/composer, Gian Slater for voices that explores the notion of communication between and without words. That which cannot be put into words – those things we don’t wish to speak of or those that go without saying. In moments of communal grieving, consoling, conversing, gossiping, joking, arguing – we use our shared knowledge and human experience to read between the lines, but at times those moments are lost or misunderstood. In silence, we wish to speak our minds yet often miss the chance and in conversation we long for space but don’t always leave it.
This work is written for voices using experimental and extended vocal techniques with intricate, textural layering and conceptual improvising.

Gone, without saying
Performed by
Jenny Barnes
Tom Barton
Helen Catanchin
Hailey Cramer
Miriam Crellin
Georgie Darvidis
Ed Fairlie
Bronwyn Hicks
Kate Kelsey – Sugg
Louisa Rankin
Gian Slater
Damien Slingsby
Loni Thomson
Au?ur Zoëga

Gian Slater the rarest of singers – a complete musician and true virtuoso, whose mastery of her instrument is in total service to a powerful emotional immediacy in her music. She possesses a highly mobile and accurate voice with an uncommon improvisational ability, and the harmonic and technical awareness and clarity of intention more commonly associated with instrumentalists. At 26, she has already developed an extended body of original compositions and recordings and is a sought after vocalist in many diverse settings.
Gian graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2003, she was a finalist in the prestigious Freedman Fellowship (2004) and National Jazz Awards (2005). As a composer and band leader Gian has recorded 3 CDs, the chamber/song cycle “In My Head” 2005, 2007′s rock/pop EP “Our Galaxy”, and “Creatures at the Crossroads” a 2008 collaboration with the extraordinary pianist William Poskitt. She has recorded for ABC Jazz track (2003) and was featured on Andrea Keller’s ABC Aria nominated album ‘Angels and Rascals’. Gian is a member of Barney McCall’s, ‘Sylent Runing’ who have just released their debut album ‘Empathy Chip’ and toured Australia in September 2009.
Her most recent projects include the ‘Gian Slater Trio’, ‘The Road’ and ‘Porchlight’ as well as collaborations with singer/songwriter Lior and the Silo String Quartet. Gian lectures in voice and aural studies at all three of Melbourne’s major improvised music universities (Victorian College of the Arts, Monash University and NMIT).