Opening act Elixir featuring Katie Noonan
One of the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz, Grammy Award winner Ron Carter, is making his way to the Concert Hall Stage for a one night only event.
The epitome of class and elegance, the Ron Carter Trio, including one of the most commanding and versatile guitarists in the US Russell Malone and legendary pianist Mulgrew Miller, offer a seamless performance rich in detail, pure in sound and technically impressive.
Supported by luscious folk trio Elixir, comprising ARIA Award-winner and Australia's favourite singer-songwriter, Katie Noonan, saxophonist Zac Hurren and guitarist Stephen Magnusson, presenting a fresh collection of tracks from their upcoming album.
Having collectively performed alongside music legends from Miles Davis to BB King, Sarah Vaughn, Dexter Gordon, James Brown, Sonny Rollins, Patti Austin, Little Anthony, Regina Belle and Stan Getz, the Ron Carter Trio will turn even a Jazz newbie into an aficionado.
National tour presented in association with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival.
Ron Carter
Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music's greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the Kronos Quartet, Dexter Gordon, Wes Montgomery, and Bobby Timmons. In the early 1960s he performed throughout the United States in concert halls and nightclubs with Jaki Byard and Eric Dolphy. He later toured Europe with Cannonball Adderley. From 1963 to 1968, he was a member of the classic and acclaimed Miles Davis Quintet.
In 1993 Ron Carter earned a Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group, the Miles Davis Tribute Band and another Grammy in 1998 for Call Sheet Blues, an instrumental composition from the film Round Midnight. In addition to scoring and arranging music for many films, including some projects for Public Broadcasting System, Carter has composed music for A Gathering of Old Men, starring Lou Gosset Jr., The Passion of Beatrice directed by Bertrand Tavernier, and Blind Faith starring Courtney B. Vance. Carter shares his expertise in the series of books he authored, among which are Building Jazz Bass Lines and The Music of Ron Carter; the latter contains 130 of his published and recorded compositions.
He was Artistic Director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Studies while it was located in Boston and, after 18 years on the faculty of the Music Department of The City College of New York, he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus although, as a performer, he remains as active as ever.
AWARDS and ACHIEVEMENTS
- Named Outstanding Bassist of the Decade by the Detroit News
- Jazz Bassist of the Year by Downbeat Magazine
- Most Valuable Player by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
- 1959 graduated from the Eastman School in Rochester with a Bachelor of Music degree
- 1961 graduated Manhattan School of Music in New York City with a Master's degree in double bass
- Carter has also received two honorary doctorates from the New England Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music
- 1993 won a Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Group
- 1998 The Miles Davis Tribute Band, featuring Ron Carter, won a Grammy Award for an instrumental composition from the film Round Midnight.
- In 2002 was the recipient of the prestigious Hutchinson Award from the Eastman School at the University of Rochester
- In 2010 was honoured by the French Minister of Culture with France's premier cultural award - the medallion and title of Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters, given to those who have distinguished themselves in the domain of artistic or literary creation and for their contribution to the spread of arts and letters in France and the world.
Russell Malone
ln his late teens. Russell Malone first made his way to the music clubs of Albany, Georgia, to hone his guitar and performance skills. A pivotal career shaping experience was sitting in with the great organist Jimmy Smith's band in Atlanta and eventually joining his band in the late 1980s, before making his way to New York City. Other influences include fellow guitarists Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Collins and vocal artists Sam Cooke, the Dixie Hummingbirds, and Freddy Cole.
Malone has played with a wide range of musicians from different music idioms, including Patti Austin, Little Anthony, Regina Belle, Peabo Bryson, the Winans, Clarence Carter, George Benson and David Sanborn, who features Malone on his latest CD. Malone starred in Robert Altman's 1996 movie Kansas City and recently issued Bluebird with pianist Benny Green. Malone is touring the country with Green and also with his own quartet to support his 2004 release, Playground.
Russell Malone's first guitar was a plastic green toy his mother bought him. Only five years old, Malone strummed the little guitar all day long trying to emulate the sounds he had heard from guitarists in church. At ten, he developed an interest in blues and country music, but when he saw George Benson perform on television, he knew he wanted to be a jazz musician.
In April 2004, Malone launched the Strings Series for MANAZZ with his label debut, Playground, featuring his working band: Martin Bejerano, piano; Tassili Bond, bass; E. J. Strickland, drums; and guests Gary Bartz, saxophone; and Joe Locke, vibes. All arrangements are by Malone, who also produced the CD and wrote six of the ten tracks.
Now Malone is one of the most commanding and versatile guitarists performing. He can move from blues to gospel to pop to R&B and jazz without hesitation, a rare facility that has prompted some of the highest profile artists in the world to call upon him.
After hearing Malone play with Harry Connick Jr., former Sony head Tommy Mottola signed him to Columbia. Malone's self-titled 1992 debut reached No. 1 on the radio charts and was followed by Black Butterfly. Verve Records came calling next and released three albums by Malone: Sweet Georgia Peach, Look Who's Here and Heartstrings.
Mulgrew Miller
Selected by a 1995 New York Times poll as one of the most in-demand pianists in jazz, Mulgrew Miller was also cited by the venerable Hank Jones as one of his favourite pianists. Recognizing that a great artist must sometimes first look to his past while moving forward, Miller reinvigorated Wingspan, the reputable sextet he founded almost 20 years ago, for his MAXAZZ label debut, The Sequel. Requests have come in from around the world to book the re-established group, increasing Miller's already active touring schedule. He also maintains trio and solo projects, as is evident with the release of Live at Yoshi's, volumes one and two. Other innovative projects include his duos with the late Danish jazz bassist Neils Henning Orsted Pederson, his commissions to compose special works for the Dayton Dance Company, and his student workshops.
Miller was picking out melodies on the piano by ear at age six, taking lessons at age eight, and gigging with his older brother by age 11. As a teen, he soaked up every kind of music available in his small southern hometown - blues, country & western, gospel, R&B, classical - but didn't find his passion until he heard his first jazz record by Oscar Peterson. Miller's mentors included pianist James Williams, saxophonist Bill Easley, and Ray Charles' sideman Rudolph Johnson. These influences, combined with the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. and the lessons of the civil rights movement integral to his Greenwood, Mississippi childhood, shaped him as both a person and an artist. A skilled, swinging player and an inventive soloist, Miller's personal sound was forged from long-time associations with jazz legends Woody Shaw, Art Blakey, Betty Carter, Benny Golson, Johnny Griffin, and Tony Williams. He spent three years with Shaw's Quintet, three with the Mercer Ellington Orchestra and over six years with the Tony Williams Quintet. Featured on over 400 recordings, he made his first recording as a leader in I985 for producer Orrin Keepnews's former label Landmark, and later recorded on the RCA Novus label. He composes and tours nonstop and, in 1997, was invited to tour Japan with some of the most prestigious names in jazz piano - a group of ten pianists called 100 Gold Fingers, including the late Tommy Flanagan, Rav Bryant and Kenny Barron.
Elixir
Elixir is a trio of friends and musicians who combine to create intimate folk and jazz inspired music. Elixir's music is driven by the words of two great Australian poets -- Thomas Shapcott and Martin Challis. Elixir creates music that feels free, pure and joyful.
Fueled by arguably Australia's greatest jazz guitarist Stephen Magnusson, Katie Noonan and Zac Hurren weave around each other in a loving musical exchange. Elixir is a true trio - three unique voices combining to create beautiful music.
Katie Noonan
Katie Noonan's technical mastery and pure voice make her one of Australia's most versatile and beloved vocalists. This multi award winning and 6 time platinum selling songstress first received widespread praise as the angel-voiced songstress of indie-pop band george, and has since taken audiences on sublime excursions through jazz, pop and classical music. Noonan's affinity with jazz shone through the ARIA award winning album, Before Time Could Change Us. Recorded with revered pianist Paul Grabowsky, it captured the breathtaking beauty and emotion which characterises her work. In Noonan's last album release, Blackbird, she collaborated with an historic ensemble of iconic jazz players including Joe Lovano, Ron Carter, Lewis Nash and John Scofield. Her critically acclaimed new album Emperors's Box features her wonderful band The Captains (Stu Hunter, Cameron Deyell and Declan Kelly) and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
'Here is a rare talent with a voice of extraordinary beauty and versatility......Noonan's soaring, beautifully phrased high notes, ultra-musical communication of meaning and expressive use of the microphone and digiial technologies were stunning.'
THE AUSTRALIAN
Visit Katie's website.
Zac Hurren
Zac Hurren is a truly unique and distinctly Australian saxophonist, composer and improvisor. Steeped in the jazz heritage of Coltrane, Shorter, Coleman and Shepp and deeply inspired by Aussie greats McGann, Simmonds, Barlow and Tinkler; Zac's distillation of these traditions has resulted in a music of fiery passion and quirky intellect.
Zac's beautiful and individual style has seen him play alongside the likes of Dale Barlow, Paul Grabowsky, Scott Tinkler, James Morrison, Katie Noonan, Jeff 'Tain' Watts and the Australian Chamber Orchestra.
Zac's debut album Exordium was released in Australia mid 2007 on Aussie jazz label Jazzhead. This album received great critical acclaim and heralded a triumphant arrival on the contemporary jazz scene for Zac.
Zac is a unique voice within the Australian jazz community. His compositional style is admired by many for its originality and harmonic maturity and his playing style is uniquely his own.
Stephen Magnusson
Stephen Magnusson is one of the most accomplished, versatile and distinctive musicians in Australia. His incredible technique and astoundingly beautiful tone on his instrument have made him an indispensable part of many bands and film scores. Magnusson has performed/recorded with many national and international artists including Paul Grabowsky, Scott Tinkler, Christine Sullivan, Michelle Nicole, Australian Art Orchestra, Martin Breeze's Blackbird, Assumptions Trio, Megan Washington, Lisa young, Katie Noonan, Paul Kelly, Vince jones, Jim Black, Mike Nock, Julien Wilson, Enrico Rava, Arthur Blythe and many others. Stephen was awarded the Swiss Diagonal Arts Grant and the Pop Kredit award in 1999, was Co-Winner of 2000 National Jazz Award, and nominated for the Freedman Fellowship twice and the Melbourne Prize in 2007.
For more information on Ron Carter, visit his website.
Elixir will perform from their as-yet-untitled new album, which explores new musical boundaries built around the lyrical framework of the celebrated Australian writer Thomas Shapcott. For Elixir, the opportunity to share the stage with Ron Carter will provide an extraordinary glimpse of a genius at work.
For more information on Elixir, vistit their website.