HARD BOP JAZZ GIANTS TAKE ON AUSTRALIA’S EAST COAST
Celebrated New York drummer Joe Farnsworth teams up with Australian heavy weight Dale Barlow for the Prime Time Quartet East Coast tour in May.
JK: What were your earliest influences?
JF: Buddy Rich, Sonny Payne, Tony Williams, Max Roach
JK: Obviously, you have played with some amazing players, what set of “circumstances” creates the most exciting music?
JF: Best circumstances are playing with great players. Whether it be cedar Walton or McCoy tyner. Or Ron carter or Bob Cranshaw.
George Coleman or Pharoah sanders
You know the music is going to be real. And you know that you will have to play to the best of your abilities. Also playing for the people
It’s a gift from God to be able to play anywhere in the world for anybody
JK: How has your drumming changed over the years?
JF: I’m trying to always be more aware. I’m trying to play with more space. More freedom. I’m trying to slow everything down so the music has more of a chance to lift off
In Australia for the third time, Farnsworth’s last visit saw him perform with the legendary Pharoah Sanders at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, where he stole the show and received critical acclaim for thrilling brush and pedal work. Farnworth said about the tour, “Australia is a most wonderful country. Australian’s have a sense of peace and joy which lends itself greatly to jazz music. Dale Barlow has been a force ever since I heard him with my heroes Cedar Walton and Billy Higgins. It’s a dream for me”.
Regarded as one of the top jazz drummers in the world, Farnsworth is dedicated to the great tradition of jazz drumming conceived by artists like Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Billy Higgins and Arthur Taylor. Frequently called upon to “light a fire” under their bands, Joe has appeared on more than 70 albums and shared the stage with illustrious musicians including Wynton Marsalis, Cedar Walton, Kurt Elling and Diana Krall.
The seven destination tour will begin with a public workshop and performance at Brisbane’s newest jazz venue, JMI Live. The quartet then tours as far south as Wollongong, with performances also scheduled for Mullumbimby, Lismore, Newcastle, Canberra and Sydney.
For this tour, Joe’s sensitive hard bop style is perfectly matched against titan tenor saxophonist and the only Australian to ever be a member of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Dale Barlow. National Jazz Award winner and bassist Brendan Clarke and Chicago-born pianist John Harkins complete this line up.
8pm, Thursday 18 May BRISBANE: JMI Live, jazz.qld.edu.au (07 3216 1110)
3pm, Friday 19 May BRISBANE WORKSHOP: JMI Live, jazz.qld.edu.au(07 3216 1110)
8pm Friday 19 May BRISBANE: JMI Live, http://www.jazz.qld.edu.au (07 3216 1110)
8pm Saturday 21 May MULLUMBIMBY: Ex Services Club, http://www.mullumexservices.com.au (02 6684 2533)
2pm, Sunday 21 May LISMORE: Lismore Jazz Club, Tatts Hotel, http://www.tattshotel.com (02 6621 4729)
8pm Wednesday 25 May CANBERRA: The Street Theatre, http://www.thestreettheatre.org.au (02 6247 1223)
7pm Thursday 26 May WOLLONGONG: Wollongong. Conservatorium, http://www.wollongongjazz.com (02 4228 1122)
8:30pm Friday 27 May SYDNEY (LIVE RECORDING): Foundry 616, http://www.foundry616.com.au (02 9211 9442)
8pm Saturday 28 May NEWCASTLE: Unorthodox Church of Groove, http://churchofgroove.com.au (0401 342 030)
