Gary Daley's quartet Bungarribee returns to the Blue Mountains on August 25 to perform a program of original interpretations of classical composers, improvisations and even takes on African folk tunes.
Jazz reviewer John Hardaker described their music as “somewhere to the north-east of jazz but definitely south-south-west of European art music”.
Bungarribee features Paul Cutlan on clarinets and sax, Tunji Beier playing Indian and African percussion, Oliver Miller on cello and loops, and Daley on piano accordion and loops. They are in the first rank of Australian musicians and are each known for their compelling individual approaches to playing. By bringing them and this unusual combination of instruments together Daley is creating a mesmerising form of chamber music where classical meets jazz, and rhythms inspired by Southern India.
Collectively the four musicians have performed, recorded and toured internationally with countless groups including The Australian Art Orchestra, Mara!, The catholics, The Noise, DVA, the SSO, Australian Brandenberg Orchestra, to name just a few.
The Bungarribee debut at Springwood in 2014 gained a splendid review from John Shand in the Sydney Morning Herald, who wrote: “The curling melodies of Bartok's Nocturno (Mikrokosmos No. 97), particularly suited the ensemble (setting up an accordion solo underpinned by sparse pizzicato cello), as did Dmitri Kabalevsky's evocative At Night On The River. From the latter we traveled at the speed of light directly to Mali and the question-and-answer melody of Traore's Kanou. Lilting dialogues between firstly piano and cello and then cello and bass clarinet rode on Beier's relaxed groove from djembe and shaker played simultaneously.”
While Springwood-based Daley is heard in the Mountains a few times each year, it is a rare opportunity to hear his quartet, a virtuosic band working in a constant search for spontaneity and beauty. Bungarribee grew out of Daley’s larger band and composition Sanctuary which many in the Blue Mountains will know and which has been widely acclaimed.
Bungarribee will perform on Saturday August 25 at 8pm at The Boilerhouse, Hydro Majestic, Medlow Bath. Tickets: $35 at www.outix.net/tickets/event/bungarribee or phone Chris on 0411 954 826.