Digital Pill – working musicians talk about their lives

Mark Hannaford piano, Sam Anning double bass and Allan Browne drums playing
‘Darn that dream’ at Bennetts Lane jazz Club

Check out their latest CD
Shreveport Stomp

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Fran Swinn’s composition – Inform – for Jazz quartet and acrobat, featuring Eugene Ball – trumpet, Fran Swinn – guitar, Tamara Murphy – double bass, Ben Hendry – drums and Rockie Stone – acrobatics/aerials. Inform is a collection of short pieces written with the rhythm and form of the various circus apparatus in mind and performed with a focus on interaction and improvisation, thus creating an ensemble of five. This clip is of the final chair stack with drummer Ben Hendry assisting. Sound recording by Myles Mumford. Video by Leo Dale.

Fran Swinn trio album available here
Fran Swinn on myspace

Rockie Stone’s website
Tamara Murphy’s website

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Marios Cafe marked 25 years of serving the arts community last night with an all star band in front of a large crowd at the Fitzroy Town Hall. I’ve posted this short clip of Paul Williamson blowing all the cobwebs away. Have a look at his very popular sax lesson for Digital Pill here

Thanks to the two Marios for an incredible gig and all of their support for live music over many many years. You can visit their new website here

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Tinpan Orange performing “Saudades” at the Quiet Music Festival 2010. Emily Lubitz – vocal and guitar, Jesse Lubitz- guitar and Alex Burkoy – violin with Harry Angus on keyboard (off camera)

You can visit their website tinpanorange.com

and buy this song on iTunes

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Grounded in the traditions of Indian, Javanese and Western classical music Fine Blue Thread are Ria Soemardjo – Voice, Sam Evans – Tabla, Helen Mountfort – Cello. Here they are playing at the Quiet Music Festival

Vist them online
Their website

Buy their CD

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Leo Dale – playing solo alto flute in the Musing Studio, where the public draw the musician, at the Quiet Music Festival. Its a free improvisation in an Indian classical / jazz fusion style. The scale used is G lydian ( like G major scale with a raised 4th C# ) In a post modern twist, he is using a digital tamboura from an iphone app that he bought. The alto flute is part of the flute family, a lower larger version of the soprano flute or orchestral flute (commonly known as “the flute”) The alto flute often features in nature documentaries.

Read about the Quiet Music Festival here

More alto flute from Leo’s releases

Domino Snake by Louie Prez

Big Game by Zebra Crossing

Nsati by Valanga Khoza and Leo Dale

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Saltwater Sax at the Paris Cat playing a tune – Walking in the Moonlight – by Martha Baartz (on alto). In the group she plays with Tony Hicks on tenor, Leo Dale on alto and Paul Williamson on baritone. On this occasion they also appeared with Sonja Horbelt on drums.

Tony Hicks (on tenor, far left – playing the first solo) is going to do a post next week focussing on articulation – stay tuned

Visit Saltwater Sax here

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Afro Mandinko playing a concert in Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne – January 2009. Not only a great dance band in action but also a group who are experts in the science of warming up large crowds to dance, sing and express their inner spirit.

Visit Afro Mandinko’s website by clicking here

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King and Lamine put down the drums and say it all with their mouths.

Visit Afro Mandinko on myspace by clicking here

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