Melbourne-based jazz soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett’s collaborates with two of Australia’s most recognised and respected jazz musicians, double bassist Ben Robertson and percussionist David Jones, on her new release on the ABC Classics label, counterpoint.
This album represents the evolution and development of this significant and individual artist and her trio. Embracing a wide range of musical genres this album explores the notion of counterpoint within an improvised music context. Some of the material was already a part of the trio’s live repertoire and other material has been spontaneously improvised. The album also includes two pieces by J.S. Bach, arranged by the trio.
Counterpoint looks at the juxtaposition of ideas: melodies against harmonies against rhythms; between emotions against moods; between notation and improvisation. The soulful playing of Burnett coupled with the rhythmic momentum of Jones and the lyrical and melodic bass playing of Robertson creates a mood that is at once both passionate and controlled.
Burnett says of her unique musical style: “With counterpoint I consciously set out to infuse the music with a sense of calm, to create music that expresses contrasting moods: reflective, uplifting and joyful but also with an ability to create a feeling of stillness. These are qualities that are becoming more and more important to me as I negotiate my way through this world. I also set out to make a recording that represented my current musical development and influences as an improvising musician,” she adds. “One that did not shy away from my own sense of truth.”
After completing a Bachelor of Music performance degree in Improvisation in 1994 at the Victorian College of the Arts, Burnett continued her post graduate studies at the VCA and finishing a Masters degree in 1997. During her Master’s degree she had the opportunity to study both classical saxophone and contemporary classical composition. Both these areas of study have been very influential on her development as an improvising musician. In the US she had the opportunity to take lessons with two of the greatest saxophone masters in jazz, David Liebman and George Coleman.
She first performed at 14 and has since the age of 21 been leading and co leading her own ensembles. In 1992 she founded and co-led Morgana, an ensemble featuring five of Australia’s leading female improvising musicians. Morgana toured nationally, performed at many of Australia’s leading arts and music festivals and produced two critically acclaimed CDs, on Newmarket Music, Talk Walk Whisper and Have You Heard The News Today?
For more info on the The Fiona Burnett Trio visit wwww.fionaburnett.com
