Doubler Header: Simpatico & Jackson Harrison Trio

Simpatico 8.30 – 9.30pm

Immediately unusual and totally captivating… Very much a mark of their extraordinary skills as musicians, the result is full of exquisite counterpoint and intricate conversation … A thoroughly engaging dialogue – The Age

Reed players Andrew Robson and Paul Cutlan have developed a unique rapport, playing together in bands such as the Original Otto Orchestra and Mara! since the mid-1990s. When they come together to improvise, you are guaranteed to hear music filled with friendship, humour, trust and adventure as the duo listen to each other and create. Tonight sees the pair explore different textures of sound and depth using very different wind instruments, with magic moments as they emerge through the swirl almost sounding as one.

Texturally it is as abundant as a rainforest…the fused musicality of the two players ensures the improvisations are never groping for ideas. Each piece is utterly distinctive in mood – John Shand, SMH

Andrew Robson (alto sax) Paul Cutlan (clarinets, tenor sax)

Jackson Harrison Trio 10.00 – 11.00pm

Jackson Harrison has great ideas and the talent to expand on them, but it’s the undeniable chemistry he shares with his partners that makes ‘Land Tides’ a complete picture…It takes a cohesive unit to pull off a poem like this… – All About Jazz (USA)

Since taking first place at the National Jazz Award at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival in 2006, pianist and composer Jackson Harrison’s career has gone from strength to strength. His debut CD Land Tides and accompanying tours received widespread critical acclaim here and in Europe and the USA, confirming his status as one of the most exciting young pianists to emerge in recent years.

There’s a wild beauty to the disc that amplifies the trio’s off-kilter approach – All About Jazz (USA)

Known for his “articulate playing” (SMH) Jackson recorded an album of solo piano work in 2009 and has just returned from performances in China and Hong Kong. The strong rapport he shares with his longstanding musical partners will be in full flight tonight as the trio presents a set of brand new material along with original works from their recordings tonight.

Each note twinkles like a hot point in an unbounded sky – Signal To Noise (USA)

Jackson Harrison (piano) Ben Waples (bass) James Waples (drums)