The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra
Brisbane Powerhouse
24 September
The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra showcased Australia’s most awarded and highly respected jazz artists, while also collaborating with the internationally acclaimed and multi award winning German pianist and composer Florian Ross.
The program presented original works, including compositions by Florian Ross, Mike Nock and Murray Jackson. With some interesting arrangements by Florian Ross including standards by Toots Thielman and a creative arrangement of Autumn Leaves titled Autumn Things, that carried the theme throughout and in turn across all band sections.
Overall, this all-star 17-piece jazz orchestra exalted the Powerhouse performance space into the sublime. But it was clearly James Muller’s solo’s that received the most excited applause, and at times even had fellow band members in awe.
Muller’s improvised solo’s transcended the musical works from which they were conceived. Contrasting profound harmonies with bold and daring musical statements that reeked fusion and Hendrixisms.
In fact, his innovative use of the infamous Jimi Hendrix 9th chord, combined with an array of altered jazz extensions, provided his colourful solos with an exciting modernist sensibility.
PERSONNEL:
Florian Ross – piano
James Muller – guitar
Brendan Clarke – contrabass
Evan Mannell – drums/cymbals
Saxophones – David Theak, Roger Manins, Murray Jackson, Scott Langley & Nick Bowd
Trumpets – Simon Ferenci, Tim Crow, Darryl Carthew & Special Guest – Mat Jodrell
Trombones- Jeremy Borthwick, Danny Carmichael,Colin Burrows & Lucian McGuiness
The Mothership’s 17 members include 10 National Jazz Award Finalists (including 3 winners), 4 Freedman Fellows (including 2 winners), an Australia jazz Artist of the Year, two James Morrison Scholarship Winners, a finalist in the International Thelonius Monk Trumpet Competition and a finalist at the Hoolieart International Jazz Competition (Belgium). Together the Mothership’s members have released over 30 CDs as bandleaders.
The Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra performance was part of the Brisbane Powerhouse Cool Nights Hot Jazz series in September 2006, curated by Mark Isaacs.
The music featured is available on the CD:Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra ‘Plays the Music of Mike Nock’.
