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The Usefulness of Art

Event

The Usefulness of Art

  • Date: Thursday, 24 August 2017 to Sunday, 27 August 2017, Thu-Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2:30pm
  • Venue: fortyfivedownstairs — 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, VIC
  • Tickets: Adults: $35 | Children: free | Concession: $30 — Tickets can be purchased online or by phone on (03) 9662 9966

Event Details

Acclaimed Melbourne jazz composer and musician Adam Simmons returns to fortyfivedownstairs for four nights in August, with a rare opportunity to experience his The Usefulness of Art suite performed by a world-class 20-piece ensemble.

The concerts will be the first time The Usefulness of Art has been performed by the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble alongside an art installation by Filipino sculptor Diokno Pasilan and featuring costumes by Christine Crawshaw. While The Usefulness of Art suite--with its sublime meditations on the qualities of acceptance, empathy, generosity, compassion and faith--is already known to fans of Simmons’ avant-garde trio, Origami, it has only once before been performed live by a larger ensemble, during its creative development process.

Expanding the work for the much larger ensemble builds on its contemplative nature and elevates it to an immersive and ecstatic listening experience through the musicians’ connection with audiences--something that drives Simmons’ approach to performance. Earlier this year Joseph Earp of Beat magazine wrote that ''… for Simmons, art has a uniquely communal power. His pieces, though obscure, are never difficult, and his performances are always guided by the goal of audience unity.''

Musicians for this concert include Simmons on bass clarinet and leading the ensemble; on saxophones, Samuel Boon, Cara Taber, Gideon Brazil and Paul Simmons; trumpets, Gemma Horbury and Gavin Cornish; and trombones James Wilkinson and  Bryn Hills. The redoubtable Howard Cairns--also a member of Origami--will play double bass, alongside Miranda Hill. On drums will be Niko Schauble and Hugh Harvey, and percussion Nat Grant, Carmen Chan, Leah Scholes and Diokno Pasilan. David Brown will play guitar, and Pete Lawler (Weddings, Parties, Anything), space drums.

Further information for this event is available online at the event's website or by phone on (03) 9662 9966 or by email to info@adamsimmons.com

Featured Australian Works

Acceptance : jazz ensemble by Adam Simmons
— performed by Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble
Compassion : jazz ensemble by Adam Simmons
— performed by Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble
Empathy : jazz ensemble by Adam Simmons
— performed by Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble
Faith : jazz ensemble by Adam Simmons
— performed by Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble
Generosity : jazz ensemble by Adam Simmons
— performed by Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble

Featured artists

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