Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Event Details

Gian Slater “Grey Is Ground” Album Launch

Vocalist / Composer, Gian Slater is well-known in jazz and contemporary music circles in Australia and abroad. She has long been a singer’s singer: an individualist whose vocal artistry and sophisticated song writing have forged a creatively adventurous career. Grey Is Ground is Slater’s sixth solo album released by New York based label, Biophilia Records, produced by the transcendent Barney McAll and featuring the drumming genius of Simon Barker. The album, four years in the making, marks Slater’s deepest dive into the unknown - at once fizzing, technicolor synth-epic and poignant singer-songwriter confessional. For this special album launch show, the trio of Gian, Barney and Simon perform from the new album, exploring the nature of mystery, curiosity and surrender through Slater’s songs and their collective improvisations.

Gian Slater – Voice/Piano/Synth
Barney McAll – Piano/Synth
Simon Barker - Drums

Underwards Award-winning trumpeter and composer Ellen Kirkwood leads her latest project – a quartet of talented locals, presenting nature-inspired and climate change-reactive works which exemplify her signature characterful and moody composition style. With her are Hilary Geddes on guitar (Visions of Nar, The Buoys), Nick Henderson on bass and synths (Arcing Wires, Emily-Rose and the Wild Things) and Alex Inman-Hislop (Barney McAll Quintet, Zela Margossian Quintet), bringing her music to life with skill and vibrancy. In her works for Underwards, Kirkwood evocatively combines composed material with eclectic group and solo improvisations, to fuel the imagination with imagery, feeling and a healthy dose of weird.

"Ellen Kirkwood's music has that rare quality that characterises the music of the best composers: A truly unique, original voice that leaves you dying to hear the next piece." - Dr Sandy Evans, OAM

Ellen Kirkwood - Trumpet, Vocals, Loops
Hilary Geddes - Guitar
Nick Henderson - Electric Bass, Synths
Alex Inman-Hislop - Drums

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (02) 8322 0974 or by email to Marketing@Sima.org.au

Featured artists

• Jazz/improvisation by Gian Slater
• Jazz/improvisation by Simon Barker
• Jazz/improvisation by Barney McAll
• Jazz/improvisation by Ellen Kirkwood
• Jazz/improvisation by Hilary Geddes
• Jazz/improvisation by Alexander Inman-Hislop
• Jazz/improvisation by Nick Henderson