Mark Lau will be back from New York for a couple of weeks - and for this one night he has brought together three old friends, three of sydney's best free improvisers.

Old Standards ==> New Measures

Four improvisers who are dedicated to moving thru familiar jazz standard tunes in a fresh and unique way...

The long-awaited launch of Clea Crimson’s debut album “Home Is Where The Art Is”.

The album is a collection of jazz/folk infused songs written by Clea and recorded live over two days at Aphek Studio with some of Sydney’s best jazz musicians (Bill Risby, Ben Ackland, Steve Elphick, Toby Hall and Spike Mason).

“I enjoy the process of recording live songs with the band – rather than tracking everything separately and then putting it all together.” says Clea. “It is an intense focus, to sing every time knowing it might be the one that goes on the album. We were exhausted at the end of the two days but I think we came away with a great result.”

Luke Pittman will open the night.  Growing up on a steady musical diet of Metal, Punk Rock and eventually Neil Young, one might be expecting a musical outcome sounding something like a very cranky bloke singing folk music.  The result is in fact laid back tunes ruminating on Love, God, Love, Satisfaction, Love, Dissatisfaction and the ocean, all presented in a voice sounding some what more like Tim Buckley than Jeff Buckley.  After a few years off, he returns to the stage in 2011 with a newfound relaxed stage presence that only comes from re-assessing life's bigger questions and coming up with very few answers.

the exploration of sonic soundscapes
the flow of cascading rhythms
the pathway into unknown territories

David de Vries - Guitar
James Waples - Drums
Brendan Berlach - Saxophone
Spike Mason - Saxophone

if the title isn't jazz enough for you... this will be a once-only collaboration between five great improvisers, long-time far-flung friends...
nadje noordhuis: tpt (nyc) - (she's a expat sydneysider too, monk
competition finalist etc.)
spike - sax
carl dewhurst - guitar (winner Ike Issacs International Jazz Guitar competition)
mark lau - bass (nyc)
tim firth - drums

come and discover Sydney’s most unique music space!

featuring:
SPIKE MASON QUARTET
JESS GREEN & THE PRELOVED
THE FANTASTIC TERRIFIC MUNKLE
BRI COWLISHAW

A sculpture by Ian Scott will be on sale for $1000.

Beer from Little Creatures, wine and food for sale.

media enquiries (02) 8013 8219 / 0405 726 753
www.cafechurch.org.au/eightoclocksharp

$20 / $10 lounges, candlelight, tea and coffee - wine, beer, and food available for this night only.

getting off the wall with a thriller:
jazz musicians giving props to the king of pop :

Michael Jackson

featuring anna rizzo, tj eckleberg, pete harding, ella nielson, spike mason, and the incredible Adrien Andre :  six Sydney based musicians and vocalists offering their own takes on wonderfully crafted and immortal songs that have shaped us all... Including songs such as Billie Jean, Thriller, Man in the Mirror, Human Nature... Plus a special group performance of "We are the World".

In 2003 Spike Mason once again curated a huge series of concerts mostly jazz and world music with some amazing vocalists.  It would be six more years before any of us found the energy to organise a series of this standard, running for this long.

1st may

Tempo di Tango :: string tango trio

8th may

Michael Kahr :: folk piano jazz

15th may

Dr Aimless :: jazz-pop fusion
TUFA :: southeast asian electronica

22nd may

Java Quartet :: dark melodic acoustic jazz

29th may

Sarah Blasko :: seductive woman of pop
Lady Jane :: acoustic mellow rock

5th june

Khayal ::classical nth indian vocal music

12th june

Louise Perryman :: soothing, siren, sensual soul
Deborah Dicembre :: acoustic rock

19th june

Hevahl :: kurdish folk, trance grooves
Eastern Music Ensemble :: indian classical

26th june

Geospace :: jazz sax quartet - Alfredo Lopes

3rd july

The Splinter Orchestra :: 20 piece improvisation group

10th july

Aris Kartsonas Project :: original jazz guitar ensemble

17th july

Barney Wakeford Group :: piano jazz

31st july

Paul McNamara & Friends :: jazz piano, solo, duo, trio

7th august

Andy Bull :: intelligent nu-soul songs
Mbahago :: spike's got a new daughter

14th august

Mic Conway's National Junk Band :: post millenial vaudevillian cabaret

21st august

Selah :: album launch - 10 piece jazz

28th august

Tom Waits Tribute :: many songsters and songs

The first performance of Spike Mason’s long-awaited new work - a significant new Australian composition for jazz sextet: Spike Mason (saxophones, composer), Henri Peipman (piano) Kristin Berardi (vocals), gareth lewis (trombone), gillian smith (violin), steve elphick (double bass)