The Blake Wilner Quartet
announces DCITA sponsored tour of Australia
Whilst leavening the jazz chops with outside rock and funk elements, Blake doesn't compromise his stance as a firm individualist.
Martin Longley, Jazz Review (10 musicians you must hear)
An accomplished composer ... whose music has an auspicious emotional and structural range.
Jazz Journal International
Blake Wilner is an individual voice on guitar. Reflective, with a distinctive approach to composition, his pieces are lyrical, melodic and attractive. Solos are clean and spacious, and the result of concentrated thought. His career usefully demonstrates the international nature of jazz, and its ability to absorb music from anywhere in the world
Mike Butler, Metro
This is contemporary jazz at its best and some of the finest dynamic music on current offer.
Wes Gillespie, EuroclubdeJazz
The Blake Wilner Quartet is considered one of the most exciting, individualistic and innovative young jazz groups performing at the moment.
The Australian Tour is promoting their latest recording, Interloper, an exciting album of new music. The group features Blake Wilner on guitar, Brandon Allen on saxes, Ben VanderWal on drums and Sam Anning on bass.
The quartet was featured on May's Jazzwise compilation CD of Cheltenham Jazz Festival artists, and its third album, The Reprieve, reached the finals of the Sony International Jazz Competition for independent recordings. Wilner was featured in a Jazz Review article entitled 'Ten musicians you must hear'. Wilner's compositions have many stylistic influences: swing, groove, minimalism and pop and feature arrangements of contemporary pieces by artists such as Bob Marley and Tom Waits. The quartet has been featured at such renowned festivals as the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the Greenwich Jazz Festival and the City of London Festival and has performed extensively throughout the UK.
Blake Wilner was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1973. He has a Certificate of Music from both the Australian Institute of Music, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and an Associate Degree of Music for jazz performance from WAAPA. Before moving to the UK, Wilner spent time in New York where studied with jazz greats Rufus Reid, Richie De Rosa, Mick Goodrick, Kenny Wessell and Jeff Ciampa. His time in New York inspired his 2000 album of original compositions, A Thought of NYU. Wilner's second album, The Bookshop, was released in 2002 and featured music composed whilst living in London. In 2003 and 2004 he led the quartet on highly acclaimed Arts Council of England sponsored tours of the UK, the second of which promoted the UK release of his third recording, The Reprieve. His third UK tour is scheduled for November 2006. In 2005, Wilner performed extensively as a freelance musician and made a return visit for two months to New York. In 2004 he was a finalist in the Jerwood/ PRS Foundation Initiative and in APRAs PDAs. He holds teaching positions at the London Contemporary College of Music, Kingston University and the Blackheath Conservatoire.
Brandon Allen is a saxophonist/flautist/composer, originally from Australia but now resident in London. He has worked extensively in the jazz, pop, RandB, funk, modern classical and dance idioms as well as working as a session player for commercial music and films. Allen has performed at various jazz festivals including the Isle of Wight, Reading, Southport, Copenhagen Jazz Festival and The Terrassa Jazz Festival in Spain. As well as the Blake Wilner Quartet, Allen is currently a member of the Guy Barker Group and Dylan Howes 5 Corners. He has performed extensively throughout Europe.
Sam Anning is regarded as one of the top bassists in Australia. He won the 'Toyota Music scholarship' and was twice finalist in the 'James Morrison scholarship'. He has performed with many local, national and international Artists, including James Morrison, Joe Chindamo, Terell Stafford, Don Burrows, Ingrid Jensen, Graham Collier, Graeme Lyall, Chris Cheek, Sheila Jordan and Jamie Oehlers.
Ben VanderWal (Drumset, Percussion) graduated from the Western Australian Conservatorium of music (Bachelor of Performance) with Distinction in 1997. Here he was recipient of the Bob Wylie Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding graduating student. He has performed internationally with jazz luminaries Sam Yahel, Mark Murphy, Kitty Margolis, Madeleine Peyroux, James Morrison, Ernie Watts, Dale Barlow, Ray Charles, Joe Chindamo, Graeme Lyall, Darius Brubeck and Andy Sheppard.
TOUR DATES
Saturday 17 June: Albany Town Hall Theatre, York Street Box Office: 9841 1661 Tickets: $27 and Concession $12.50 Time: 8pm www.albanytownhall.com.au
Monday 19 June: Perth Jazz Society, Hyde Park Hotel, cnr Bulwer and Fitzgerald Sts, North Perth Information: 9284 2578 Tickets: $15, Concession $12, Members $10 Time: 8pm www.perthjazzsociety.com
Tuesday 20 June: Workshop - Smarter than smoking High School Jazz Series, sponsored by Healthway
Friday 23 June: Adelaide, 199 Club, 199 North Terrace, Adelaide Tickets: $20 and Concession $15 Time: 9pm www.club199.com
Saturday 24 June: Devonport, Tasmania, Centenary Court Room, Devonport Entertainment Centre Tickets: $15 general public, $10 jazz club members and $5 students under 18 Time: 8pm www.tasjazz.ii.net
Sunday 25 June: Launceston Jazz Club, Royal Oak Hotel, The Boatshed, Brisbane St Box Office: (03) 6331 5346 Tickets: Members $7, non members $12 Time: 3pm www.elaunceston.com/people/launcestonjazz
Tuesday 27 June: Sydney, Excelsior Hotel, corner Foveaux & Bellevue Sts, Surry Hills Tickets: $12, $10 Members of Jazz Action Society, SIMA, Sydney Jazz Club , UNSW Jazz Society, $8 Jazzgroove members Time: 10pm www.jazzgroove.com
Wednesday 28 June: Canberra, Hippo Lounge and Bar, 17 Garema Place Information: 02 6257 9090 Tickets: $10 Time: 8.30pm www.hippobar.com.au
Thursday 29 June: Newcastle, The Dungeon Jazz Club, cnr Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown Box Office: (02) 4962 1177, Tickets: $25, members and concession $20 Time: 7.30pm www.dungeon.com.au
Friday 30 June: Armidale, Cattlemans Motel, 31 Marsh St Box Office: 67750167 Tickets: $20, members and concessions $15, school age $12 Time: 8pm
Sunday 2nd July: Dubbo RSL Club Theatrette, Brisbane St Box Office: (03) 6331 5346 Tickets: $25.00 non members, $20.00, Jazz & RSL Club Members Time: 3pm www.users.bigpond.com/dubbojazz
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 July: Melbourne, Bennetts Lane Information: (03) 9663 2856; Tickets: $12, concession $10 Time: 8.30pm www.bennettslane.com/mambo
Saturday 8 July: Brisbane Jazz Club, 1 Annie Street, Kangaroo Point Box Office: prepaid bookings(07)3391 2006 Tickets: Members $8, Visitors $12, Concession $10 Time 8.00pm www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au
announces DCITA sponsored tour of Australia
Whilst leavening the jazz chops with outside rock and funk elements, Blake doesn't compromise his stance as a firm individualist.
Martin Longley, Jazz Review (10 musicians you must hear)
An accomplished composer ... whose music has an auspicious emotional and structural range.
Jazz Journal International
Blake Wilner is an individual voice on guitar. Reflective, with a distinctive approach to composition, his pieces are lyrical, melodic and attractive. Solos are clean and spacious, and the result of concentrated thought. His career usefully demonstrates the international nature of jazz, and its ability to absorb music from anywhere in the world
Mike Butler, Metro
This is contemporary jazz at its best and some of the finest dynamic music on current offer.
Wes Gillespie, EuroclubdeJazz
The Blake Wilner Quartet is considered one of the most exciting, individualistic and innovative young jazz groups performing at the moment.
The Australian Tour is promoting their latest recording, Interloper, an exciting album of new music. The group features Blake Wilner on guitar, Brandon Allen on saxes, Ben VanderWal on drums and Sam Anning on bass.
The quartet was featured on May's Jazzwise compilation CD of Cheltenham Jazz Festival artists, and its third album, The Reprieve, reached the finals of the Sony International Jazz Competition for independent recordings. Wilner was featured in a Jazz Review article entitled 'Ten musicians you must hear'. Wilner's compositions have many stylistic influences: swing, groove, minimalism and pop and feature arrangements of contemporary pieces by artists such as Bob Marley and Tom Waits. The quartet has been featured at such renowned festivals as the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, the Greenwich Jazz Festival and the City of London Festival and has performed extensively throughout the UK.
Blake Wilner was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1973. He has a Certificate of Music from both the Australian Institute of Music, and the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts, and an Associate Degree of Music for jazz performance from WAAPA. Before moving to the UK, Wilner spent time in New York where studied with jazz greats Rufus Reid, Richie De Rosa, Mick Goodrick, Kenny Wessell and Jeff Ciampa. His time in New York inspired his 2000 album of original compositions, A Thought of NYU. Wilner's second album, The Bookshop, was released in 2002 and featured music composed whilst living in London. In 2003 and 2004 he led the quartet on highly acclaimed Arts Council of England sponsored tours of the UK, the second of which promoted the UK release of his third recording, The Reprieve. His third UK tour is scheduled for November 2006. In 2005, Wilner performed extensively as a freelance musician and made a return visit for two months to New York. In 2004 he was a finalist in the Jerwood/ PRS Foundation Initiative and in APRAs PDAs. He holds teaching positions at the London Contemporary College of Music, Kingston University and the Blackheath Conservatoire.
Brandon Allen is a saxophonist/flautist/composer, originally from Australia but now resident in London. He has worked extensively in the jazz, pop, RandB, funk, modern classical and dance idioms as well as working as a session player for commercial music and films. Allen has performed at various jazz festivals including the Isle of Wight, Reading, Southport, Copenhagen Jazz Festival and The Terrassa Jazz Festival in Spain. As well as the Blake Wilner Quartet, Allen is currently a member of the Guy Barker Group and Dylan Howes 5 Corners. He has performed extensively throughout Europe.
Sam Anning is regarded as one of the top bassists in Australia. He won the 'Toyota Music scholarship' and was twice finalist in the 'James Morrison scholarship'. He has performed with many local, national and international Artists, including James Morrison, Joe Chindamo, Terell Stafford, Don Burrows, Ingrid Jensen, Graham Collier, Graeme Lyall, Chris Cheek, Sheila Jordan and Jamie Oehlers.
Ben VanderWal (Drumset, Percussion) graduated from the Western Australian Conservatorium of music (Bachelor of Performance) with Distinction in 1997. Here he was recipient of the Bob Wylie Scholarship, awarded to the most outstanding graduating student. He has performed internationally with jazz luminaries Sam Yahel, Mark Murphy, Kitty Margolis, Madeleine Peyroux, James Morrison, Ernie Watts, Dale Barlow, Ray Charles, Joe Chindamo, Graeme Lyall, Darius Brubeck and Andy Sheppard.
TOUR DATES
Saturday 17 June: Albany Town Hall Theatre, York Street Box Office: 9841 1661 Tickets: $27 and Concession $12.50 Time: 8pm www.albanytownhall.com.au
Monday 19 June: Perth Jazz Society, Hyde Park Hotel, cnr Bulwer and Fitzgerald Sts, North Perth Information: 9284 2578 Tickets: $15, Concession $12, Members $10 Time: 8pm www.perthjazzsociety.com
Tuesday 20 June: Workshop - Smarter than smoking High School Jazz Series, sponsored by Healthway
Friday 23 June: Adelaide, 199 Club, 199 North Terrace, Adelaide Tickets: $20 and Concession $15 Time: 9pm www.club199.com
Saturday 24 June: Devonport, Tasmania, Centenary Court Room, Devonport Entertainment Centre Tickets: $15 general public, $10 jazz club members and $5 students under 18 Time: 8pm www.tasjazz.ii.net
Sunday 25 June: Launceston Jazz Club, Royal Oak Hotel, The Boatshed, Brisbane St Box Office: (03) 6331 5346 Tickets: Members $7, non members $12 Time: 3pm www.elaunceston.com/people/launcestonjazz
Tuesday 27 June: Sydney, Excelsior Hotel, corner Foveaux & Bellevue Sts, Surry Hills Tickets: $12, $10 Members of Jazz Action Society, SIMA, Sydney Jazz Club , UNSW Jazz Society, $8 Jazzgroove members Time: 10pm www.jazzgroove.com
Wednesday 28 June: Canberra, Hippo Lounge and Bar, 17 Garema Place Information: 02 6257 9090 Tickets: $10 Time: 8.30pm www.hippobar.com.au
Thursday 29 June: Newcastle, The Dungeon Jazz Club, cnr Brunker and Glebe roads, Adamstown Box Office: (02) 4962 1177, Tickets: $25, members and concession $20 Time: 7.30pm www.dungeon.com.au
Friday 30 June: Armidale, Cattlemans Motel, 31 Marsh St Box Office: 67750167 Tickets: $20, members and concessions $15, school age $12 Time: 8pm
Sunday 2nd July: Dubbo RSL Club Theatrette, Brisbane St Box Office: (03) 6331 5346 Tickets: $25.00 non members, $20.00, Jazz & RSL Club Members Time: 3pm www.users.bigpond.com/dubbojazz
Tuesday 4, Wednesday 5 July: Melbourne, Bennetts Lane Information: (03) 9663 2856; Tickets: $12, concession $10 Time: 8.30pm www.bennettslane.com/mambo
Saturday 8 July: Brisbane Jazz Club, 1 Annie Street, Kangaroo Point Box Office: prepaid bookings(07)3391 2006 Tickets: Members $8, Visitors $12, Concession $10 Time 8.00pm www.brisbanejazzclub.com.au
For more information contact All About Jazz.
