Craig Scott and Brendan Clarke

Double-bassists.  Double double bass.  The gentlemen of the F clef.

It's the last in our explorations of improvising duets, and we're finishing on a low note.  Expect the resonant deep tones and sit back and enjoy the vibrations.

You heard it right folks, it's a duo of double bass.

John and Brendan, both steeped in the jazz tradition, great improvisers who have worked together for years, will perform this very rare duet show.  2 sets of Jazz and Bebop compositions, mixed with Standards from the Great American Songbook.

“Steven Barry, a young New Zealander, has brought his dazzling skills as a pianist and composer to Sydney. He shrugged aside cliche, deployed scintillating articulation, and gave his colleagues such ingenious raw material as the Bartok-inspired Clusters. Boneham's solos were a lesson in how vigour may be harnessed to sensitivity, while Firth layered rhythmic puzzles into the grooves without rendering them academic, and soloed with panache...” John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald

Steve Barry crossed the ditch in early 2009 and has quickly become one of Sydney’s most sought-after pianists, having worked with many prominent Australasian and international artists including John Hollenbeck (USA), Theo Bleckmann (USA), George Coleman Jr. (USA), Arun Luthra (USA), Tricia Evy (FRA) and the Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra.

Joined by the heavyweight rhythm section of Alex Boneham on bass and the incredibly sympathetic Cam Reid on drums, the Steve Barry Trio focuses on lyrical melodies, deep grooves and group interaction, and demonstrates a unique collective rapport.

Steve Barry (piano) Alex Boneham (bass) Cameron Reid (drums)

Possibly Australia's most influential living jazz musican, Judy has taught and performed with generations of performers, helping to create the sound and culture of Sydney's jazz scene.  It's more than two years since they last played for us, and the ABC has just released a 4CD box set of Judy's recording projects.  She will play for us with her long-time trio : Craig Scott on bass and Tim Firth on drums.

STOP PRESS! Tim Firth has injured his arm, so it's another duet!

It's Liz Frencham, totally solo.

Since Jigzag's huge final show at Notes last year Liz hasn't played her own songs in Sydney.  Bring your wine and chocolate for a night of heart-warming songs and that most rare and beautiful thing, a girl standing alone with a double bass, singing.  This will be a preview of Liz's new solo album (recorded but not mastered), and a small peak into next years "you & me vol 2".

LizFrencham.com

Tim and Mark both used to live in Sydney.  then they both left.  they've since performed together at Pori Jazz and Umbria Jazz and in Melbourne, but this will be the first time they've hunted on their old turf for the beautiful equality only an improvising duet can bring.

"even in a country so richly endowed with superior jazz pianists, Tim Stephens is one of those at the very top of the pile" john shand

with his old friends Spike Mason (sax), Richard Maegraith (sax), Tim Firth (drums)

We love it when Mark comes home for a visit.  He says his new album, Centrical, "moves freely from beautifull stripped down ballads to aggressive, distorted horn textures and loops" - they are playing different aspects of the music at Jazzgroove on Tuesday and everyone's favourite secret Jazz venue on Wednesday - on Thursday we're getting the beautiful stripped down set, see if you can get to all three!

Rodrigo studied bass, electric bass, and composition at the University of Brazilia, Escola de Musica de Brazillia, and the Conservatoruium of Gustav Hitter.

In this country, you're most likely to have seen him with Lolo Lovina. That would have made you very happy, but this is a rare chance to hear him close up.

The third in our series of bands led by bass players:

Possibly Australia's best female double bass player, with heartwrenching songs and a voice like honey. Now working in Melbourne, Liz will be joined by local pianist Nick Southcott and Newcastle guitarist Robbie Long (current Australian flat-pick guitar champion) for an evening of stupendous revelations and unearthly delights.

The second in our series of bands led by bass players:

a double bass player with a beautiful and generous style, Steve will play solos duos and trios, with a balance of composition and improvisation, the music he's been borrowing and stealing and making up for all of this life

with two other recognised composing and improvising masters,
Paul Cutlan on saxophone and clarinet
and Phil Slater on trumpet
who knows what might happen!