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Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra
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PLACES AND SPACES presents
the Australian Art Orchestra - Into the Fire Tour
We are awaiting confirmation of travel dates for Sydney
Into The Fire
Artists
Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani (Mringdangam)
Mr. B.V. Balasai (Flute)
Mr. Ragu (Mandolin)
Mr. V. Suresh (Ghatam)
Mr. Alister Spence (Keyboard)
Mr. Adrian Sherriff (Trombone)
Mr. Scott Tinkler (Trumpet)
Mr. Nikolaus Schäuble (Drums)
Ms. Sandra Evans (Saxophone)
Mr. Philip Rex (Double bass)
Mr. Lachlan Davidson (Guitar)
One of the aims of the AAO has been to create situations allowing for a free and open exchange of musical and dramatic ideas between different cultures and traditions. When we were invited to tour India in 1996, a wonderful opportunity arose to begin a collaboration which has had far-reaching consequences. Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani is regarded as one of the greatest exponents of the complexities of Carnatic music, the classical music of South India. A composer, vocalist and renowned virtuoso performer on the mridangam, he is also known for his willingness to share the vital principles of his tradition with musicians who are interested to work with those principles; equally, he is just as interested in applying his musicianship to the challenges thrown up by meetings with non-Carnatic systems. He is also a particularly gifted creator of the subtleties of South Indian cuisine, and regards his talents in this area as exceeding his musical ones. Touring with him is full of surprises...
Our first meetings revolved around the rehearsals and performances in Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta of Adrian Sherriff's re-scoring of Vasantha Pravaham. Sri Mani was sufficiently impressed by the success of this experiment to express a desire to continue developing repertoire which reflected the potential of this collaboration. Significant commissions followed, by John Rodgers and Scott Tinkler, and in 2003 by Daryl Pratt, and Adrian Sherriff, this time working with Elliott Dalgleish. All of these works have drawn on our growing understanding of the magical qualities of the applied mathematics which makes up Carnatic music. We have subsequently toured together with Sri Mani and various members of his Sruthi Laya group throughout Australia, and in Europe.
Sri Mani, now a Guru, celebrates in 2003 his 50th year as a professional musician. He has influenced and inspired countless aspiring students and masters within his field, and I can say without any sense of hyperbole that he is without doubt one of the finest musicians on the planet, one of the select few who appear in one's lifetime. We of the AAO feel very blessed to have been able to make our musical journey with Sri Mani, and look forward to its next stages.
– Paul Grabowsky, 2003
Background
In October 1996 the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) traveled to India as part of the performing arts initiative called 'New Horizons' - mounted by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to promote Australia-India relations.
To take full advantage of the opportunity Adrian Sherriff, a founding member of the AAO, initiated contact with Karaikudi R. Mani - a master of south Indian Karnatic music. Adrian had been studying Karnatic music in Melbourne at the Academy of Indian Music (Aust) and it was his teacher, 'Ravi' M. Ravichandhira, who suggested the possible collaboration between the AAO and Karaikudi's Sruthi Laya Ensemble in India.
The meeting was a success and marked the beginning of a rich and innovative creative relationship. The first collaborative endeavour involved Adrian expanding and arranging Karaikudi's composition entitled Vasantha Pravaham for western instrumentation. The result was Into the Fire which was performed by the Australian Art Orchestra and the Sruthi Laya Ensemble in New Delhi, Mumbai and Calcutta. The Indian newspaper reviews attest to the success of this tour.
Having played with Karaikudi R. Mani in India, the Australian Art Orchestra members were ready to delve deeper into Karnatic music and sought further opportunities. In 1997, the Australian Art Orchestra invited Karaikudi R. Mani and T. V. Vasan to perform with them at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz with the assistance of the Australia Council and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (IND).
A further development came in 1998 when, with the support of the Australia Council, the AAO held a music camp at Ironbank, South Australia, where Karaikudi R. Mani conducted master classes. These classes gave AAO members further insight into the practical and philosophical aspects of the Karnatic tradition. The program was then taken to the Adelaide Festival where Into the Fire enjoyed great success.
In 1999 Into the Fire was recorded at the Iwaki Auditorium, ABC Centre, Southbank for ABC Classics. The AAO was assisted with the recording of Into the Fire by the Australia Council and Arts Victoria. The Australia-India Council (AIC) assisted in bringing interstate players to Victoria and The Myer Foundation made a grant towards the distribution of compact discs to educational and cultural institutions. The following year the AAO was invited to present Into the Fire in London for 'Australia Celebrates: Heads Up' and at the World Expo in Hannover, Germany. This invitation provided the basis for a tour to which was added the Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Archa Theatre, Prague and the Pori International Jazz Festival.
Other commissions that have arisen as a result of the AAO's collaboration with Guru Kaaraikkudi Mani and the Sruthi Laya Ensemble include 'Trimurti', composed by Darryl Pratt and 'Saraswati', composed by Adrian Sherriff with Elliott Dalgleish. Both these pieces were premiered in the Into the Fire performance by the Australian Art Orchestra with the Sruthi Laya Ensemble in 2003 at Hamer Hall, Melbourne as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival.
We are now in a position to stage Into the Fire in Australia, in a format featuring the entire line-up of 20 plus guests and to tour in India with the smaller group of 11. The 2007 the tour for AusArts India began in Hyderabad with a concert staged by promoter KK Raje followed by Mumbai Arts Festival (Gateway to India concert), Kolkota and Bangalore. In 2009 it makes a national tour in Australia.
Performance to take place @ the Factory Theatre.
Tickets released closer to the performance date.
Register on our mailing list for updates.
Other concerts in the series
Other concerts in the series
Sunday 25th October, Misinterprotato and Jeremy Rose Quartet at Quirkz
Friday 27th November - Taikoz/Topology/Karak, Japanese drumming, the Australian Way and the talents of Topology, one of the foremost contemporary music ensembles and Karak @ the Enmore Theatre
 
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