Everybody who knows Leonie knows how great she is.  Everybody who has a copy of the Pony album loves it.  She hasn't been playing so much the last couple of years, but she's doing a duet set for us.  Leonie says she's "thrilled to be performing as a duo with bassist Hugh Fraser......... On an evening following superb pianist/composer Tomomi Takahashi who’ll be playing the first set with her ensemble."

Tomomi will be opening the night with her quintet - piano, double bass, sax, violin and euphonium.  She's an improvising musician who works with improvised theatre, and will be mostly playing premieres of original music.  I have a photo, but it's hard to get two photos on this website thingy, so you'll have to show up and meet her in person.

Master guitarist and experimental composer, Guy Strazz, returns with the exciting Eastern Blues Quartet to Colbourne Ave.  Experimental jazz nuanced with Indian classical music and Latin funk where the scintillating sounds of two guitars are driven by a hard swinging, vibrant rhythm section.

Comments from last month’s performance at Jazzgroove:

‘EBQ - Blending aspects of jazz, Indian, blues and Latin music. In fact, the word "aspects" is probably redundant, so completely are the component parts integrated, providing the players with unique rhythmic and melodic fields upon which to unleash their improvising skills’.  J. Shand SMH

‘Oh. My. God!’ Ben Panucci, director @ Jazzgroove

‘Brilliant!’ David Rasko (spectator and guitarist)


Eastern Blues takes influence from Ravi Shankar and the Coltranes to name just a few - an approach coupled with a strong sense of the improvisational elements of Indian music.
Impressive **** Jazz & Beyond

 
"Guy Strazz is amongst the most lyrical players in the land, the influence of the Indian sitar tradition can be traced beside that of the the combustive fire of Brazil and the explosive virtuosity of the likes of John McLaughlin and Egberto Gismonti" - John Shand, The Sydney Morning Herald.

Guy Strazz – electric guitar   
Aaron Flower – electric guitar   
Toby Hall – drum-kit   
Hugh Fraser – electric bass   

Playing Jazz spiced with Afro-Brazilian rhythms, the band includes long time collaborator and bass man, Hugh Fraser; distinguished emerging guitarist, Aaron Flower and American percussionist Chris Field.  Read more at guystrazz.com, or check the great story while you listen at myspace.com/guystrazzmusic

This is a special one-off FRIDAY concert, to celebrate the birthdays of Guy and Aaron!

A fundraiser for their ABC Melbourne recording, playing a mix of originals, jazz standards, and jewish tunes. 

You've probably seen Leonie accompanying David Campbell, Christa Hughes, or Edwina Blush.  This trio have been playing together for nearly ten years and are about to record their second album for the ABC. 

“Cohen’s own playing is spacious and lyrical whether soloing or in support. The music is seductive and melodic and the solos are often exquisite.”
Dave Curry - Canberra Times