Two grand pianos.  Two of our favourite pianists.  With 20 fingers and 176 keys, Barney and Gavin will present a whole evening of standards and their own compositions.

It means "whisper" in Portuguese.  Classic and innovative readings of the timeless Brazilian songbook - echoes of Jobim, Luis Bonfa, Joao and Astrud Gilberto, Gal Costa, Djavan and others.

Forming the core of Sussurro are Jeanne Bastos (vocals, percussion) Peter Toohey (guitar) and Gavin Ahearn (piano). Jeanne is “the real deal” bringing her heritage from Bahia to down under. Peter continues his decades long love affair with the Brazilian guitar tradition. Gavin is a Colbourne regular. In the engine room are bassist Peter Gray who studied in NY with John Pattituci, Toby Hall (the happiest drummer in town) on drums, and the in-demand and diverse Tim Bradley on percussion. Sussurro are a whisper of Brazil as Sydney launches into summer.

I asked Gavin about the music.
he sent me two awesome Bruce Dawe poems.
i love bruce dawe almost as much as i love Gavin Ahearn.  Gavin is a beautifully creative improvisor whose depth of humanity is amplified through the keys.

With Nic Cecire on drums and Jonathan Zwartz on double bass, I expect an emotionally and musically powerful night of Sydney style jazz.

No right angles in this band!

Gavin's new Brazillian band, Sussurro, will start our year with a sultry mid-january party.  they'll be recording a video clip.  Enjoy classic and innovative readings of the timeless Brazilian songbook - echoes of Jobim, Luis Bonfa, Joao and Astrud Gilberto, Gal Costa, Djavan and others.

Forming the core of Sussurro are Jeanne Bastos (vocals, percussion) Peter Toohey (guitar) and Gavin Ahearn (piano). Jeanne is “the real deal” bringing her heritage from Bahia to down under. Peter continues his decades long love affair with the Brazilian guitar tradition. Gavin is a Colbourne regular. In the engine room are bassist Peter Gray who studied in NY with John Pattituci, and the in-demand and diverse Tim Bradley on percussion/drums. Sussurro are a whisper of Brazil on a sultry summer night in Sydney. Come and enjoy.

Right on!

How many times can you play Stella by Starlight? 70s and 80s pop tunes are now standards, and Barney will be giving the classic 1971 funk-soul album What's Going On an improvised Sydney piano trio treatment.

The night will open with a solo piano set by Gavin Ahearn - if you missed him a fortnight ago, well you don't have to miss him again.

Gavin Ahearn, Matt Ottignon, Toby Hall, Karl Dunnicluff

music inspired by winter

with a solo set up front by John Dip Silas

www.gavinahearn.com

Exploring different textural combos with piano in duo, trio, quartet & quintet formations, Gavin will exercise his formidable improvisational ability.

"Ahearn is every bit the beautiful, lyrical pianist he's touted to be" [ lloyd bradford (brad) syke, Australian Stage]