Lost In Place At Mona Foma
March 09, 2023
It was a joy to work with this eclectic group of improvising musicians, Butoh performers and dancers. One main stage performance and two four-hour performances as part of the Old Tafe Sessions in Launceston, lutruwita. A huge thank you to Mona Foma and everyone involved. In particular, to my collaborators: Yumi Umiumare, Takashi Takiguchi, Risa Ray, Eri Mulloolly-Hill Konishi, Emily Bennett, Reuben Lewis and Ronny Ferella. Images by Mona Foma.
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#liveperformance
#video
#creativedevelopment
You Are Meadow
February 01, 2023
I’m very happy to share the recording of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra's premiere of you are meadow, at Deakin Edge, Melbourne (28/1/23).
Program note:
You are meadow, but once you were an open cut in a place no one wants to remember. You are the ashes of a brass band, too few opportunities for the young. The shadow of my instrument. You are lambs eating from morning hands. At night, you are the absence of a dog, of a body, of play. For the women in the haunted hills, mothers of coal and prehistory, they are the stronghold of a working class. You do not sing ecological laments or paint landscapes into notes. You spring in perpetual meadows and linger in the already-past. The concrescence of the orchestra in two parts, only to cut once again.
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#liveperformance
#score
#video
#composition
Photos by Laura Manariti
Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires
December 07, 2022
Storm Approaching Wangi and Other Desires is a new ballet about
the life of Australian artist Sir William Dobell, which was premiered at MAP mima,
Lake Macquarie, over three nights in November. It was a such pleasure to
develop, perform and hang with this brilliant team: choreographers Skip
Willcox and Belle Beasley, artist James Drinkwater, dancers Alex Abbot,
Allie Graham, Strickland Young, Matthew Mortimer, as well as Vinnie
Drinkwater. I'm very grateful to all the collaborators, The Lockup in
Newcastle for having me as Artist in Residence, and the team at MAP
mima. More to come (fingers crossed). Pics by Ben Adams.
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#composition
#liveperformance
#contrabassguitar
#dance
#creativedevelopment
photos by Ben Adams
Album: I Hold The Lion’s Paw (2022)
October 2, 2022
Released September 8, 2022
I Hold the Lion’s Paw
Reuben Lewis - trumpet, subsequent 37, pedals
Emily Bennett - prophet 6, voice, pedals
Joseph Franklin - bass
Ronny Ferella - drums
Didem Caia - poetry (side B)
Recorded Live at
Program Records on 23/2/2022
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#album
#studiorecording
#video
#contrabassguitar
#liveperformance
Hyperesthesia (IV)
September 05, 2022Hyperesthesia (IV) is both the name of the work, and the ensemble—the two parts inseparable. The musical material is grounded in my approach to solo contrabass guitar (semi-hollow six string bass guitar), with the ensemble contributing their diverse approaches to extended instrumental practice and improvisation, presented in an immersive quadraphonic listening environment.
The ensemble creates long-form works that evolves slowly over time, in order to elicit a physical change in the listeners and performers (such as Hyperesthesia, or increased sensory activity). The music shares concepts influenced by ritual music traditions, such as Stambeli of Tunisia, as well as the history of minimalism in improvised performance.
The ensemble features improvising percussionist Duré Dara who has had a profound impact on the Australian improvising scene for more than four decades; Callum G’Froerer on double-bell trumpet and electronics; Thomas Stewart-Toner on prepared nylon and electric guitars; and Joseph Franklin on prepared contrabass guitar, concepts and composition.
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#composition
#liveperformance
#video
AJIRN 2022 Conference
May 03, 2022‘Space is the Place’
5th Australasian Jazz and Improvisation Research Network Conference
6–8 May, 2022
Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University
Here is a LINK to the abstract of my paper, ‘SLAP(!) AND THE DEATH OF THE ELECTRIC BASS.
And a LINK to the full schedule.
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#theory
#liveperformance
#writing