Melbourne chamber jazz trio Antelodic will perform music from their new album, To Iceland!, at Kindlehill Performance Ampitheatre at Wentworth Falls on Friday, April 23.
Antelodic explores the space between jazz, chamber music and acoustic folk, with influences including Bill Frisell, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Guiffre, the writings of Richard Brautigan and the photography of William Eggleston.
Individually, Robbie Melville, Gideon Brazil and Monty Mackenzie have worked with artists as diverse as Gotye, Krystle Warren, Shane Howard, Isaiah Firebrace, Vince Jones, Orchestra Victoria, Luke Howard & Leonard Grigoryan. The trio have played together in numerous projects over 16 years.
The music combines meticulously arranged, densely notated compositions with moments of improvisation and sound sculpting, reaching beyond the traditions of both classical and jazz to create a style very much of its own. Critics have often noted its cinematic quality.
Doors open at 7.30pm. The first at set 8pm features Ronny Faerella's Spartecus Collective, a solo drum set project devised by Melbourne drummer/composer, accompanied by the musicians from Antelodic. The project is the outcome of many years of research and practice into the idea of "playing the drum set in tune". Not as a tuned instrument where the drums are true to a certain pitch but as a tonal instrument where the drummer leads the audience's ear (and his own) to the conclusion that he is playing in tune with the group through deep listening and intentional touch response.
The second set at 9:10pm features Antelodic, with Adam Simmons standing in on this tour for long-time band member Monty Mackenzie. Simmons is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator, involved across many different scenes within Melbourne and beyond, performing contemporary jazz, punk, afro-beat, new music, traditional Japanese honkyo-ku, funk and free noise/improv.
In 2019, guitarist/composer Melville won the instrumental category of the International Songwriting Competition, against 19,000 entries, judged by music greats including Tom Waits, Lonnie Liston Smith and Danilo Perez. Melville's compositions are evocative, intimate, ethereal and often whimsical. They are brought to life with the unusual instrumentation of guitar, tenor saxophone. The trio has developed a highly nuanced approach to their creative practice that allows them to experiment in the moment while maintaining a unified ensemble sound.
The venue boasts an enchanting, heated indoor amphitheatre with pristine acoustics, polished timber floor and earth walls by local architects in a magical Steiner education setting at 8 Lake Street, Wentworth Falls, with off-street parking and a five minute walk from the train station. Sweet and savory light refreshments with hot and cold drinks will be available. The event has a COVID safety plan. This tour is made possible by support from the Australia Council for the Arts.
Information and bookings: musichunter.com.au.
