Melbourne based guitarist James Sherlock visited the Bent Notes studio to chat about the value of awards to up and coming musicians, how he listens to music, and his brand new Trio album The Verb not the Noun – his first trio album since 2010.

While in-studio James played Live-To-Air a piece from the new album , and discussed performing with his trio consisting of Bass Player Sam Anning and Drummer Danny Fischer.

The launch of The Verb not the Noun, referencing the fact that music is an active activty, will be held at The Jazzlab on Tuesday Octboer 17, 2023.

Keep an eye on Bandcamp from October 17, 2023 for The Verb not the Noun

Hear all that James had to say in this podcast from JOY 94.9

James Sherlock was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday September 24, 2023

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The post James’ Music is Active – it is the Verb appeared first on Bent Notes.

When Pianist and Composer Luke Howard was guest on Bent Notes he spoke about working in both the Comtemporary Classical and Jazz worlds as both composer and pianist, and being drawn back into the musical world after starting a career outside of music.

With Story Telling at the heart of his music, Luke spoke about his contemporary classical composition created during COVID lockdowns called ALL OF US, based upon a book called THE PLAGUE, written in 1947 by French novelist Albert Camus.

Luke also spoke about combining his Solo Piano and Jazz Trio in a single gig at The Count’s on Wednesday September 13, 2023

Hear what Luke had to say in this podcast from JOY 94.9

Luke Howard was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday August 27, 2023

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Inspiration for Stephen Hornby’s +F:rst Sunn+ project came out of Lockdowns, when Stephen found himself with time to think and work without interruption.

The result is the debut album for his +F:rst Sunn+ project.  (Yes, Stephen also talks about that spelling . . . .)

Hear Stephen talk about the project, as well as his interest in writing in text form about music, in this podcast from JOY 94.9.

Stephen Hornby was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday July 16, 2023

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Harry Mitchell is a pianist based in Perth who spoke about growing his love of live music through his enjoyment of live bands at his church when growing up.  His enthusiam resulted in his studying his degree and masters at University before moving on to teach, compose and run a number of projects – buildling a library of 16 albums to date.

Harry remembers the thrill of seeing and playing with guest musicians visiting the university during his study.

Harry’s QUIET COUNTRY project seeks to infuse originals and covers with a Country feel – developed after experiencing some country stylings on his Music of Paul Simon album.

The latest album from his Quiet Country project is called Sadness and Euphoria. Harry notes that composing music that is complex and busy is easy compared to the stretch involved in writing music that is simple and beautiful.

Hear what Harry had to say when he spoke with Bent Notes in this podcast from JOY 94.9.

Harry Mitchell was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday July 23, 2023

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Tim Stevens celebrates a number of things this year – marriage, first child – and his Trio – the Tim Stevens Trio.

Celebrating the trio takes the form of a gig where the trio will get together and play music from the five albums released across the 20 years as well as new tunes that Tim has ready to go.

Tim and Ben Robertson chat in this podcast about many Monday nights rehearsing upstairs at Tim’s home with drummer Dave Beck while building their friendships over a home cooked dinner ; their similar mindsets when it comes to chord voicings (and Tim’s challenging chord choices!) – as well as  a trip to Adelaide sharing the driving while trading BeBop phrases throughout the journey.

Both Tim and Ben agree that Improvissation is an ongoing Question and that perhaps their debut album – Nine Open Questions – may be a permanent set of open questions.

The Tim Stevens Trio celebrates their 20 year anniversary at The Jazzlab on Sunday August 13, 2023 – presented by the Melbourne Jazz Cooperative

Tim Stevens and Ben Robertson were guests of Bent Notes on Sunday July 23, 2023

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Aussie ex-pat musicians Jody Sternberg (Voice, Saxaphone) and David Lewis (Trumpet) spoke with David Moyle and Matt Warne on Bent Notes shortly before their departure from France to visit Australia.

Jody and David have lived in France for some years, enjoying the Jazz scene across France.

Hear Jody talk about her finding her voice, and her approach to playing the sax – as well as her enthusiasm to visit and perform in Australia.

Jody and David will be performing with Melbourne pianist Mark Fitzgibbon at The Count’s (Melbourne Wednesday July 26, 2023), MONA (Hobart Monday  August 7, 2023) and the Jazzlab (Melbourne Friday August 11, 2023)

Checkout Jody’s brand new album – Castles in the Sand on your favourite online service.

Jody Sternberg and David Lewis were guests of Bent Notes on Sunday July 16, 2023

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Fiona Burnett and Sonja Horbelt spoke about the challenges experienced by female artists as they try to establish themselves in the Jazz world, and the impact that their all-female band MORGANA had when they formed 30 years ago.

Regretfully the Jazz world has not moved with as much speed to encourage, train and embrace an equal number of female artists as was hoped, but progress is occurring.

Getting back together again last year (2022) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their forming was so much fun that they decided to continue the experience with a few more shows, including at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday July 15, 2023.

Checkout the MORGANA website for more information about Morgana.

Fiona Burnett and Sonja Horbelt were guests of Bent Notes on Sunday June 25, 2023

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The post Morgana sets the example for a great Jazz Band – and returns to celebrate their music appeared first on Bent Notes.

In this podcast from Bent Notes on JOY 94.9, Michelle Nicolle speaks of her love of the music of J.S. Bach from her early Violin studies when she was only 8 years of age.

Changing focus from Classical to Jazz during her university studies saw Michelle change focus to the traditional Jazz repertoire, but not lose that love of Bach, which was reinvigorated when asked by the Bach Festival at the University of Adelaide to present a ‘Jazzy’ Bach concert.

After almost ten years of gestation of this music, Michelle is releasing the album “The Bach Project” accompanied by her ensemble – Geoff Hughes (Guitar), Tom Lee (Double Bass) and Ronny Ferella (Drums).

Michelle is launching the album at the Melbourne Recital Centre on Tuesday July 4, 2023.

Michelle Nicolle was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday June 25, 2023

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Paul Grabowsky visited the Bent Notes studio to chat about his latest work – Fascinatin’ Algorhythm – being performed by his Jazz trio Torrio! onstage with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. (MSO)

Paul Grabowsky ‘Fascinatin’ Algorythm’

Paul spoke about his observation upon returning to Australia early in his career that Melbourne Jazz had stepped out with a new attitude while he had been in Germany, due in no small part to the pioneering work of Vince Jones; and how Paul has continued to develop his and Australia’s our own Jazz stylings through his attitude and approach to Jazz and music in general as being Relational.

Paul’s new work – Fascinatin’ Algorhythm – builds upon his sense of Relationship as being at the core of Jazz when relating the work of Torrio! with the work of the MSO – drawing an analogy of a Chaotic Skene through the Weave.  ( A little bit of controlled Chaos!)  Torrio! is Paul Grabowsky, Mirko Guerrini and Niko Schauble.

Mirko Guerrini, Niko Schauble ‘Fascinatin’ Algorythm’

Fascinatin’ Algorythm premiered at the Melbourne Recital Centre on May 18, 2023

Paul Grabowsky was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday May 7, 2023

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Guitarist and composer Robbie Melville visited the Bent Notes studio to play live to air two pieces from his latest album – Tangled Trails.  The album contains 55 minutes of solo guitar, the same length as the 1921 silent movie – Tangled Trails.  Robbie discovered after recording the album, that the music coincides with the action on the screen of the movie!

Hear Robbie chat with David Moyle, about his favourite guitarists and his enthusiasm for accompanying Silent Movies in Central Victoria with Ronny Ferrella playing Drums.

Robbie is looking forward to his album launch tour commencing June 23,2023 where he will be playing the album supporting the screening of the movie Tangled Trails!

Robbie’s latest album – Tangled Trails – can be found on Bandcamp.

Robbie Melville was guest of Bent Notes on Sunday May 28, 2023

Bent Notes – 2 hours of Jazz and Improvised Music – 7 o’clock Sunday nights

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