Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival

Ronny Ferella drums

Marc Hannaford piano

Geoff Hughes guitar


Like a dog with a bone, Mandala create and maintain an intensity in their search for the reason behind the sound.
Formed early 2006, this trio of guitar, keyboards and drums is keenly interested in the point where improvisation and composition intersect. Primarily an improvising group, themes and musical ideas are quickly turned into building blocks to create a new direction or concept to be pursued. Like a dog with a bone, mandala create and maintain and intensity in their search for the reason behind the sound. For this gig Mandala will be launching their new CD I’ll stop when you stop.

Start your evening with a celebration! Please join us for the Melbourne launch of extempore Issue 2 in the plush surrounds of Bennett’s Lane Jazz Club. The second issue of this exciting new journal includes interviews with Mike Nock, Judy Bailey and Scott Tinkler as well as essays, fiction, poetry, photos and more. Expect jazz-inspired readings, wine by Baddaginnie Run and tasty pre-dinner snacks. Launch to be followed by Allan Browne’s free ensemble. RSVP by 5 May to miriam@extempore.com.au

Anita Hustas –Composition, Bass, Percussion and Objects
Anthony Schulz – Piano and Accordion
Joe Talia – Percussion and Objects.

Anemone, led by bassist/composer Anita Hustas, has become the vehicle for her creation of graphic scores for improvisers. This performance for the MJFF presents a new work ‘Water’: a collection of pieces that are a visual and sonic exploration of water in eleven different manifestations.

‘Water’ is the result of Anemone winning the inaugural Atlantis Sound Recording Award for their performance at the 2007 Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival. Anemone have recorded this work which is now in production to be released in 2009. Thanks also to the Marion Isabel Thomas Prize through the Victorian College of the Arts for helping make this CD a reality.


www.anitahustas.com

Dale Lindrea: tenor guitar, electric bass, vocals, percussion, analogue/digital sampling, keyboard.
Dai “Jukebox” Jones: vocals, guitar, electric bass.
Dean Hilson: tenor and soprano saxes.
Mark Grunden: drum set, percussion.

Muddy Waters meets Kraftwerk!

A rockin’ voyage back-to-the-future with Australia’s leading Roots Fusion exponents.

Over the past decade THE VANGUARDS have risen to the pinnacle of Australia’s Roots Fusion scene. Original material, exploration of unusual ensemble blends and contemporary technologies are integral to their unique blend of “down home” inspirations with modern urban sophistication.

The members’ individual national and international credits are another immediately evident feature, providing exceptionally solid performances that evoke the truth of Roots musics: a past, a present and a future.

www.thevanguards.com.au
www.myspace.com/thevanguardsmusic

Aaron Barnden Violin
Andrea Keeble Violin
Ceridwen Davies Viola
Caerwen Martin Cello


Silo String Quartet will play a semi improvised work, Clouds, for amplified string quartet. Clouds is a multi movement suite composed by Caerwen Martin and the Silo String Quartet. Each movement is based on photographs of clouds taken by Caerwen Martin over the last year.

Silo String Quartet was founded by cellist and composer Caerwen Martin in 1998 and is the only dedicated contemporary string quartet in Australia.
Recently returned from performing at Carnegie Hall New York, Silo have performed at the Melbourne International Jazz Festivals, Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival, and Melbourne International Women in Jazz Festivals since 1999 working with such artists as Fiona Burnett, Belinda Moody, Colin Hopkins, and Quinsin Nachoff (Canada). Silo performed at the Apollo Bay Music Festival 2007 and 2008 and was the resident string quartet for the Federation Music Week International Composers Forum.

Silo regularly record new music and have just completed After the Dark, a CD of new Australian compositions. Recent Silo recordings include Luminal by David Chisholm, Dreaming of… by Daniel Salecich, new Australian compositions commissioned by the Federation of Australian Composers, a live CD Shomyo with the Colin Hopkins Trio commissioned by the Melbourne Fringe Jazz Festival and a CD for Ballet Lab entitled Origami, by David Chisholm. Silo also feature on the live ABC CD Soaring at Dawn for Jazz trio and String Quartet composed by soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett. Recent work has included performing at Assembly Hall, 3MBS live at the Convent Library, BMW Edge, Trinity Church, Collins St Baptist Church, Glen Eira Town Hall, Billilla House, Stonington Manor, Melba Hall, Bennetts’ Lane and Federation Square as well as many recording and performance projects for composers and popular Australian artists including Dan Brodie, Philip Gelbach, Antonio Tenace, David Chisholm, Lindsay Brunsdon, John Peterson and Johanna Selleck. Silo have broadcast live on ABC, 3MBS and other local Melbourne radio stations and feature on Caerwen Martin’s soundtrack to the Australian feature film ‘Lost and Found’ by David Blake.

www.myspace.com/silostringquartet
www.caerwenmartin.com

Men in Suits is without peer as Australia’s leading musical performing group in the genre “other Melbourne-based non-religious well-dressed male parody choir”. Buried deep within the nation’s economic stimulus package, Men in Suits has accepted a mission to lift the spirits of musically deprived Australians with a fiscally challenging mixture of wisdom, Georgian lullabies and nonsensical fun. Under the direction of Stephen Taberner, they even think they can go places.

www.meninsuits.com.au

Noriko Tadano with Gerry Hale – shamisen & voice; banjo, mando-cello, violin & voice.


Modern Western Banjo meets Ancient Eastern Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese Banjo): Gerry and Noriko present their original take on traditional Japanese and Appelachian songs and tunes, combining talents for an unusual blues-tinged experience.

Gerry Hale’s an English multi-instrumentalist with a broad repertoire, a popular player in Melbourne’s music & theatre scene for over 20 years (Uncle Bill, Deborah Conway, Zydeco Jump, MTC…). Noriko Tadano plays both traditional Japanese folk songs (minjo) and original works on the Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese Banjo), at festivals all over Japan and Australia. In only their 2nd performance together, they each delight in forming unexpected musical relationships.

Achilles Yiangoulli – solo bouzouki & voice


Rebetika meets Louisiana Red, Award winning bouzouki player and vocalist Achilles Yiangoulli wraps up the 6 string bouzouki – “to go”. Solo and on-the-fly…

For the past 20 years Achilles has warmed and enchanted audiences with his unique blend of Greek and worldly sounds. Never one to settle with tradition, Achilles take you on a musical journey with just him and his bouzouki. Yes stripped to the bare minimum!! Known for his travels with the Habibis, Rebetiki and the contemporary trio Ananke, Achilles brings a slant to the evening with a vast variety of experience

Andrea Keller – Nord
Geoff Hughes – electric guitar


Guitarist, composer and teacher Geoff Hughes has been one of Melbourne’s busiest guitarists since his arrival in 1994. A hopeless esoteric, Hughes is, like many of Melbourne’s more established players; at home (or perhaps comfortably adrift) in a great variety of musical settings. From the eclectic Allan Browne quintet, Casma (with Eugene Ball) , trio with Trumpeter Paul Williamson and Mandala with Marc Hannaford and Ronny Ferella , as well as stints with the Australian Art Orchestra, Paul Williamson’s Hammond Combo and a regular sideman with Jazz vocalist extraordinaire, Michelle Nicolle , Hughes precariously balances the often disparate worlds of musical performance, education and (so-called) normal life, by seeking constantly to reconcile all of them in the creative moment. Its not easy – in fact it may well be impossible – but it’s too late to stop now….

Gian Slater – Voice
Silo String Quartet – Aaron Barnden (violin), Andrea Keeble (violin), Ceridwen Davies (viola), Caerwen Martin (cello)


The unique and prodigious vocalist Gian Slater collaborates with the Silo String Quartet to present songs from her latest album ‘Creatures at the Crossroads’. Gian recorded the album with the remarkable pianist Will Poskitt, who tragically passed away late last year. The album explores the idea of freedom and limitations through prepared piano and voice and lyrically reflects upon the struggle to find a balance between the necessities, responsibilities and passions in our lives. For this performance, Gian has re-arranged selections from the album for the Silo String Quartet.

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. 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 duo collaboration with the deeply gifted pianist Will Poskitt, completed in October 2008. This remarkable collaboration was the final recording Will made before his tragic passing in November 08, and will be released in 2009. Some other recent projects include Gian’s ongoing collaboration with Lior, Andrea Keller, Geoff Hughes Collective and the New York based Josh Roseman and Barney McAll’s SYLENT RUNNING. Gian lectures in Aural Studies and Voice at all three of Melbourne’s major improvised music universities, the Victorian College of the Arts, Monash University and NMIT.