Sunday 20 April, 8pm

The Toff In Town

Robert Vincs’ performance practice spans a diversity of contexts that include improvised and jazz based music, cross-media performance, experimental and popular music. THE ROBERT VINCS TRIO brings this incredibly talented saxophonist together with percussionist extraordinaire EUGENE UGHETTI & bassist SCOTT DUNBABBIN. Ughetti is returning from sold-out performances in Japan to contribute to the ultimate expression of world, rhythm and harmony.

Vincs currently lectures in Saxophone, Improvisation and Music Technology at the Victorian College of the Arts. He has been involved in music and education since 1983, upon completion of his Diploma of Arts (music) Victorian College of the Arts. His awarded post graduate studies were on “Artificial Intelligence and Technology in Improvised Music Performance”.

Vincs has performed in the US, Europe, Asia and Australia in a variety of performance contexts specializing in music for contemporary dance. In 2002 Vincs was awarded his PhD and continues to combine his research and his musical performance toward finding ‘freedom’ in the music.

Vincs’ performance career started early as a member of Separate Tables / Girl Overboard between 1983 and ‘86. It was during this time that he became a major exponent of the Fairlight CMI (computer music instrument) leading to his sounds being used by Thomas Dolby and Kate Bush. One of the highlights of those early years was as part of Girl Overboard, playing as support for John Farnham’s ‘Whispering Jack’ tour of 1986.

More recent highlights include: Melbourne International Jazz Festival, (Ensemble Max), Seoul International Crossover Improvisation Dance Festival, in 2005 and was a guest artist in the same year Seoul Contemporary Dance Company, Melbourne International Arts Festival, 2005, (Ensemble Max), ‘Ausmusic Forum.’ Victorian Arts Center, 2005, invited participant, world record attempt, playing 98 hours of non-stop jazz, Melbourne Concert Hall, Melbourne Fringe Festival, Disasterware, winner ‘Best Band’ Battery Wallace, San Francisco, solo saxophone performance, 2000 Luna Studio, San Francisco, saxophone duet with poet Ed Aust (best beat poet, San Francisco,1997), Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Quasimodo Club, Berlin 1991, Bim Huis, Amsterdam, 1991

Vincs continues to perform regularly as a freelance musician in jazz and popular music and has performed with groups such as: Age 1+2, Bokosa, Casual Sax, Disasterware, Soul Jesters, Wild Dog Ensemble, Mistaken Identity, Ten Apples on Top, Jam Jah, Chris Coe Band, Running Bears, Jodi Stor Quintet, The Trio among others.

As a studio engineer Vincs has experienced an exceptionally diverse array of situations and ensembles. This includes recording the VCA Symphony Orchestra, Germiniani Chamber Orchestras, improvisation and jazz groups, string quartets, experimental ensembles, world music groups, brass choirs and opera. Vincs has also recorded Mornington Island indigenous sacred songs and stories and was assistant engineer for Melbourne’s successful Olympic bid presentation direct via satellite to Tokyo from GTV Channel 9.

Vincs has composed for dance, theatre and film. Highlighted compositions and sound designs for dance include: 1+X= Mid-range Projection (Seoul Contemporary Dance Company), Torque: an occasion, Kim’s Style Guide for the Kinesthetic Boffin, Dances From Hell, Fresh Start (Winning Best Dance Program award -Melbourne Fringe Festival), Dances From Hell (one of five pieces selected nationally to be performed at the launching of the Australian Choreographic Center), Festival for a Quiet Life, Unfunded Liabilities, Dislocations*, Sometimes, I can see forever…*, Boulevard Bay*, Earth* (*Co written with Sue Johnson and Serge DeLeucio). Theatre and film pieces include The Man from Muckinupin, Concepts Incorporated, Nancy Wake, The Facts of Life Down Under, The Apprentice Time Traveler, Nan’s in a Box, Fair Treatment and Ambiguous Genitalia.

Selected Discography

Robert Vincs Devic Kingdom (Extreme)

Zeno’s Wig Eyes and Instinct (Newmarket 3017.2)*

Zeno’s Wig Bare (Newmarket 3057.2)

Disasterware Riot Slacks (DW001)

Robert Vincs Qi’alla (Glos 0201)

Robert Vincs Ceremonial (Glos 0301)

*ARIA nominated for ‘Best Jazz Album 1997’

featuring Zoe Hauptman from Zoe and the Buttercups

Workshop 2 on electronic music

featuring Kynan Robinson from the Escalators and Des Peres

Free. Limited seating. For further information please contact Greg Aronson on 9919 3296

Victoria University Music Department
Building 22, Sunbury Campus
http://www.music.vu.edu.au

Melways street directory, map ref. 382 E8.

Train: train to Sunbury station (from Spencer Street Station); local bus; or
35-40 minutes by car from the city centre via the Tullamarine Freeway, Calder Freeway or Western Ring Road.
Bus: 500 - Broadmeadows - Sunbury (Victoria University) (via Melbourne International Airport) Departs terminus at Broadmeadows Railway Station from the Victoria University of Technology

Monday April 21st, 7.30pm, Bennetts Lane Jazz Lab

Showcase Performance of Victoria University Music Students.

Featuring:

Sophie’s Quest
Steve Hornby Quartet
Travis Woods Quartet
With a Special Guest performance by Jonathon Zion, Peter Knight and Steve Rando

“This performance features students from both TAFE and Undergraduate music performance courses at Victoria University. The courses began in 1999 and have grown steadily in both numbers and breadth of study options. The courses incorporate the traditions of contemporary music performance and related technology in an academic and vocationally orientated environment.

Students undertake studies in contemporary music performance, composition and production with emphasis placed on developing creativity in these areas. The courses promote varied and flexible workplace opportunities – the relationship and involvement with the MJFF is an illustration of this. In addition, students are taught by a range of successful industry practitioners within cutting edge and state of the art facilities.”

Greg Aronson, Course coordinator, Bachelor of Music. Music Department,Victoria University.

Koffer: Anthony Schulz and Anita Hustas

Gian Slater and Christopher Hale

Stephen Magnusson and Frank DiSario

Witness six outstanding Melbourne musicians present creative interpretations of music by their favorite Australian composers, including works by Ben Winkelman, Tim Rogers, Doug De Vries, Phil Bywater, Simon Starr and Cold Chisel. Tickets for this ‘one-off’ event are strictly limited and bookings are advised on 0417-364-314

Over 4 nights from Monday April 21 to Thursday April 24 2008, the Make It Up Club 10th Birthday Festival presents over 50 performers from around Australia representing some of the most exciting and innovative improvisers this country has to offer.

Each night of the festival focuses on a different facet of contemporary improvisation and is presented at a venue that uniquely caters to this focus. For more information on the Make It Up Club festival please visit www.makeitupclub.com.au

The final night of the MIUC’s 10th Birthday festival, copresented with the MJFF, begins with Sydney based sonic explorer Monica Brooks teaming up with local avant-percussionist Joe Talia for an effected performance of the extended potentials of the keyboard and the kit. The art of spontaneous composition, with tinges of contemporary jazz and sonic abstraction, is embodied by the combination of jazz luminaries, Hannford/Tinkler/Rex/Edie. Combining relentless blast beats and free jazz brutality, Pateras and Kohane’s new project destroys the borders between Discordance Axis, Cecil Taylor, Corrupted & Xenakis. Every Man 4 Himself is a new group from Brisbane that boasts some of Australia’s most forward-looking instrumentalists: Erik Griswold, Ben Carr, AJ Hall and Ken Edie conjure a spiraling and climactic sonic dreamscape. Tonight’s concert will be recorded by ABC Classic FM for future broadcast on Jazz Up Late with Gerry Koster. After the show, please feel free to come back to Horse Bazaar to mingle with the performers, and enjoy some refreshment.

Erik Griswold - Piano, Ben Carr - Tenor Saxophone, AJ Hall - Bass & Ken Edie - Drums

Marc Hannaford - Piano, Scott Tinkler - Trumpet, Philip Rex - Double Bass & Ken Edie - Drums

Anthony Pateras - Piano & Max Kohane - Drums

Monica Brooks (SYD) – Piano, Piano Accordion, Electronics & Joe Talia - Electronics, Percussion

Tuesday April 22nd, 7.30pm, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club

In The Permanent Underground: Australian Contemporary Jazz in the New Millennium asks why, when our jazz musicians are so prized overseas, jazz remains a permanent underground? His answer is a National Jazz Plan to raise the profile, increase the audiences, lift income levels and enhance career pathways. Jazz, he writes, demands an urgent revision of both the public and governmental attitudes. Peter Rechniewski is co-founder and President of SIMA, Sydney Improvised Music Association. Published by Currency House, Platform Papers 16, April 2008

www.currencyhouse.org.au

This award is sponsored by Atlantis Sound and comprises one day of recording with producer/engineer Myles Mumford at Atlantis Sound Studios. It is awarded to an artist who has displayed consistent originality in producing intelligent music making. The Atlantis Award is not open to nominations by the public or by artists, rather it is awarded by the MJFF Board.
MJFF, Atlantis and Myles Mumford are committed to supporting musicians and original music made here in Melbourne. The Festival continues to champion the role of music and art in our society and celebrates diversity in creativity. Through this award, the MJFF and Atlantis seek to provide an opportunity for the artist to debut original works that they would otherwise have difficulty recording without outside support. The inaugural award in 2007 was given to Anita Hustas’ ensemble ‘Anemone‘, and their resulting record is due for release later this year.

Tuesday April 22nd, 9.30pm, Bennetts Lane Jazz Club

Zoe Hauptmann – Bass
Dan Waples – Saxophone
Aaron Flower – Guitar
James Hauptmann – Drums

“Bassist Zoe Hauptmann is the guiding light behind this weird and wonderful blend of jazz, bluegrass and rock that will by turns elicit laughs, cries of “Yee-ha!” and cool nods of intellectual approval. Guitarist Aaron Flower and saxophonist Dan Waples add their own grunge, groove and wild abandon. Drummer James Hauptmann drives it all along, completing a sibling trifecta appropriate for the inbred country moments. “ - John Shand SMH

Xani Kolac – Violin
Tom Gannon – Drums, Percussion

The Twoks are Xani Kolac and Tom Gannon; part unpredictable, part electronica, and part unprecedented. Xani intricately layers and loops her violin as if she is playing with a quartet of strings fused with heart-starting beats traversing gypsy, hip hop, electronica and modal jazz. It is unique and special and accessible to all. Winner Best Music Performance Adelaide Fringe Festival 2008.

Monday April 21st, 7.30pm, La Mama Musica

Kynan Robinson - Trombone
Pat Thiel - Trumpet
Mick Meagher - Bass
Marc Hannaford - Piano
Lawrence Folvig - Guitar
Joe Talia - Drums
DJ Element - Turntables.

The Escalators is a relatively new 7-piece ensemble from Mebourne’s highly
innovative composer and band-leader Kynan Robinson. Taking its
inspiration from the film works of master film director David Lynch,
this ensemble has already developed quite a reputation for its unique
sound.