The Museum of Old and New Art in Tasmania kicks off its annual Festival of Music and Art, where MONA's creative chaos spills out all over Hobart in a most unpredictable way.
You can catch a lot of jazz in the program from Sun Ra Arkestra, Colin Stetson, Ngaiire, glamorous and soulful, (thats her in the image), the Australian Art Orchestra and more. Not to mention those who push the edges of music and reference jazz such as the laser lightshow wizard Robin Fox premieres a new work, or one man instrumentalist Hinterlandt. Plus there is more music to whet your appetite in this amazingly eclectic five-day party which has grown to become Tasmania’s largest – and what some consider Australia’s best – contemporary music festival (Helpmann Awards 2012) plus a plethora of art forms, including sound, noise, dance, theatre, visual art, performance and new media.
“Music is around us everyday, everywhere, whether we want it or not. Some people are lucky to find ‘their’ music to play or for listening at least once in their lifetime," MONA FOMA Curator Brian Ritchie says. "Others are not so lucky. MOFO is a curatorial gambling operation that aspires to increase your odds by widening options.”
Jazz and jazz inspired highlights from the program
AUSTRALIAN ART ORCHESTRA with NGAIIRE [AUS]
The AAO is a leading Australian contemporary music ensemble, renowned for their radical musical skills and genre-stretching antics. These top-knotch groovers are on the cutting edge, here and internationally. Founded by Paul Grabowsky in 1994, the AAO began as a contemporary jazz orchestra but has since become known for its eclectic compositions, receiving two Australian Jazz Bell awards, a 2010 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards (Group Award), the H C Coombs Creative Arts Fellowship (2010), a Helpmann Award (2004), and a 2009 Classical Music award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Australian Music in a Regional Area’. AAO is now headed by Artistic Director Peter Knight.
For MOFO 2014, spend the evening with the AAO as they reimagine Louis Armstrong’s life and music through improvisational jazz. It’s Louis, but not as you know him – as part of the AAO’s response to the jazz cannon, Struttin’ with Some Barbecue explores the massive influence of Louis’ tunes on instrumental jazz and popular music. Composed by Eugene Ball, with projected illustrations by Linzee R. Nold, and video installation (Sabina Maselli), with special guest Ngaiire. www.aao.com.au / www.ngaiire.com.au
+ Wednesday Jan 15, 6pm, Theatre Royal, Hobart, $35 – $65.
COLIN STETSON [USA]
Stetson is a bass saxophonist and touring member of Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre and Bon Iver. He’s also handy on the clarinet, bass clarinet, French horn, flute and cornet, playing instruments like percussion sections, and mics up his throat, circular breathing like his life depends on it. Collaborates with Laurie Anderson. Pretty cool. www.colinstetson.com
+ Sunday Jan 19, 6pm, MAC2, Hobart, included in Festival Ticket.
HINTERLANDT [GER/AUS]
Hinterlandt is a German-Australian solo act playing challenging yet entertaining compositions. On stage, the Sydney-based one-man-band juggles string and wind instruments, electronic sounds, percussion and effects.
Hinterlandt has already taken this unique set to places such as London, Bangkok, Berlin, Helsinki, Sydney, Rome, Amsterdam, and Lisbon. He has released 11 studio albums were released on nine underground labels in five countries. And now he comes to MOFO. www.hinterlandt.net
+ Friday Jan 17, 6.30pm, MAC2 Backspace, included in Festival Ticket.
Graze upon teppanyaki, churrasco, paella and woodfired pizzas from the Heavy Metals Feasting Pit (part of The River Derwent Heavy Metals Project). Sip Moorilla wine and Moo Brew beers, laze on beanbags, bird watch, contemplate life and get in the zone. Check www.mona.net.au for lineup.
MELANIE HERBERT [AUS] IT CALLED OUT
Sydney-based artist Melanie Herbert’s exhibition ‘it called out – a sound installation’ is a multi-speaker work fusing sound and light to create a transfixing and constantly shifting sonic space. Immersive, delicate and evolving, opening night will feature a live improvised performance by the artist. Presented by MONA FOMA and Contemporary Art Tasmania.
+ Opening Tuesday Jan 14, 6pm, Contemporary Art Tasmania. FREE.
+ Wednesday Jan 16 – Sunday Jan 20, 12pm-5pm, Contemporary Art Tasmania. FREE.
ROBIN FOX [AUS] RGB LASER
Robin Fox is a laser wizard who delivers a close encounter of the third kind, every time. He’s been called an ‘art terrorist’ and ‘ZZ Laptop’ with his rad and rave-a-licious sound and laser performances. You might remember his Giant Theremin from MOFO 2013 and his mesmerising White Beam that pierced the air above Salamanca Lawns during Dark Mofo 2013.
For MOFO 2014, the fantastic mister Fox does three-colour laser for the first time: the world premiere of RGB Laser. www.robinfox.com.au
+ Saturday Jan 18, 9.20pm, MAC2, Hobart, included in Festival Ticket.
+ Sunday Jan 19, 9.40pm, MAC2, Hobart, included in Festival Ticket.
SUN RA ARKESTRA [USA]
This year is the centenary of Sun Ra Arkestra, psych-jazz heads from the ‘50s, now performing under the direction of veteran saxophonist Marshall Allen (himself turning 90 years old this year).
This 12-strong legendary jazz orchestra takes you on an intergalactic journey spanning the past, the present and the future. A true innovator, the late Sun Ra first led the Arkestra in the mid-50s, and continued to do so until his death in 1993. A prolific pianist, composer and bandleader, Sun Ra brought mythology to his music and is cited by a diverse range of artists as a major influence.
With Allen now at the helm, Sun Ra Arkestra brings both deft musicianship and freeform experimentation to the State Theatre in an explosion of blistering energy. Come on a journey. www.sunraarkestra.com
+ Thursday Jan 16, 8pm, MAC2, Hobart. Included in Festival Ticket.
THE BOMBAY ROYALE [AUS]
Eleven-piece Australian Bollywood-style band fronted by singers Parvyn Kaur Singh (a Bollywood dance teacher) and Shourov Bhattacharya, and led by Andy Williamson. Together they perform Bollywood-style music in Hindi and Bengali. The Bombay Royale released its first album You Me Bullets Love in April 2012 and was chosen as iTunes Breakthrough World Music Album for 2012. In 2013, the band was booked to play at Glastonbury Festival in the U.K. Wear finger cymbals and sequins. BYO bindi. www.thebombayroyale.com
+ Saturday Jan 18, 5pm, MAC2, Hobart, included in Festival Ticket.
ANSGAR WALLENHORST [GER]
Ansgar is no ordinary organist. German church musician, concert organist and theologian who specialises in improvisation and interpretation, he studied church music with Gunther Kaunzinger at the Würzburg University of Music; improvisation with Thierry Escaich, Olivier Latry and Jean Guillou in Paris; and taught, lectured, performed and recorded albums around the world. Ansgar was a hit at the inaugural MOFO 2009 and is presented in cooperation with the Goethe-Institut Australia. www.ansgar-wallenhorst.de
+ Wednesday Jan 15, 8pm, St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart. FREE.
+ Friday Jan 17, 3pm, Town Hall, Hobart. FREE.
+ Saturday Jan 18, 4pm, MAC2 Backspace, Hobart. Included in Festival Ticket.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW: www.mofo.net.au
For those who can't make the Festival,Brian Ritchie, the MONA music curator, programs weekly Jazz at Mona (JAM, every Sunday), which runs daily throughout January too. http://www.mona.net.au/what's-on/music
