Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Unlike compatriot New Zealander Mike Nock, local audiences are largely unaware of the international achievements of pianist/compser Dave McRae. Like Nock, he moved to Sydney in 1959, and collaborated with Graeme Lyall, John Sangster, Don Burrows, John Pochee and Bernie McGann (featuring on McGann’s debut 1967 recording). In 1969 he moved to the U.S.A, and the next two years in the Buddy Rich Band. He then moved to London in 1971, where his skills with the new electronic keyboards placed him in great demand with the pioneering jazz /fusion British band, Nucleus. During the formative years of fusion music, MacRae worked with other great British bands of the 70's such as the Mike Gibbs Orchestra, Mike Westbrook Band, Backdoor and the indefinable Matching Mole. He also appeared regularly at Ronnie Scott's Club with Ronnie Scott Quintet, Clark Terry, Chet Baker, Ernie Wilkins, Johnny Griffin, Clifford Jordan,The Gil Evans Orchestra and singers including Jon Hendricks, Annie Ross, and Ernestine Anderson. In the mid '70s, he formed Pacific Eardrum with his vocalist wife Joy Yates, recording 3 albums of original music, while also being musical director for the British comedy group and BBC TV production the Goodies. He return to Australia in 1985, producing the outstanding LP Southern Roots (on the Emanem label) in 1990. He continues to perform and record mainly with his own trio and Joy Yates, at Jazz festivals and venues throughout Australia and New Zealand. Some history, his first CD containing music recorded in trio or solo format over an 8 year period, was released in 2005 and received glowing reviews.

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Featured artists

• Jazz/improvisation by Dave McRae