Formed
for the inaugural Half Bent jazz Festival of 2002, the Tim Shawcross Septet
has performed an eclectic mix of compositional and improvisational styles
to audiences around Melbourne for 4 years. Comprising of some of Melbourne's
most creative young musicians, the Septet has performed at several major
festivals, including the Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2003 and
the Half Bent Jazz Festivals of 2002/2003. The Septet has been recorded
by and broadcast on ABC Classic FM and has just released their debut CD,
From You Soul Shall I Part through Newmarket. Melbourne saxophonist and
composer Tim Shawcross formed the Septet as a vehicle to explore his own
compositional interests. Shawcross recently recieved First Class Honours
for his Masters of Music in composition at the University of Melbourne.
He is currently enrolled in a PhD (in composition) and holds and Melbourne
Research Scholarship for this degree. In the last 4 years, Shawcross has
written extensively for this ensemble, and the album, From Your Soul Shall
I Part, documents seven of his original compositions. A range of genres
- from Eastern European folk forms, Spiritual/Gospel, Modal Jazz, Funk,
through to African and World Music, influences the compositions.
Although the music itself is based in composition, improvisation
is a key aspect to all the music, and allows the talented soloists within
the ensemble to merge their improvisations with the composer's music.
The ensemble is large enough that it can achieve many instrumental colours
and textures (which is exploited by Shawcross' orchestration skills),
but still small enough to allow spontaneous interaction between members,
giving the audience a complete musical experience. The Ensemble has been
recorded for broadcast by the ABC (as part of the 2002 Half Bent Festival)
and has recieved radio play on various jazz programs on national radio
stations In early 2005, one of Shawcross' compositions for his Septet,
A Waltz Mistaken, won the inaugural Original Jazz Composition Award at
the Eltham Jazz and Blues Festival. The prize for this was recording time,
and the result of that is there debut album, From Your Soul Shall I Part.
This Album was released officially in April 2006 at Bennetts Lane in Melbourne,
and is distributed via Newmarket Music. |