Tim Shawcross Septet
Tim Shawcross - News

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.


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Press Quotes

"The titles of Tim Shawcross' compositions don"t exactly roll of the tongue, but the tunes themselves are eminently listenable... The tunes tended to be either leaping with irresistible rhythms (often with Afro-Latin or east-European overtones) or pinned to a subdued, almost funeral plod, where the four-piece front line would merge to form a burnished chorale"
- Jessica Nicholas, The Age, January 24th 2003

"Another highlight (of the Melbourne International Jazz Festival 2003) was the Tim Shawcross Septet, distinguished by tight playing and imaginative, atmospheric structures"
- Martin Ball, The Australian, January 24th 2003

"...Conjured up images of an eastern European Gypsy band playing circus tunes... Shawross's lithe clarinet spurred the ensemble to a speed fuelled and lightly drunken conclusion, klezmer style."
- Jessica Nicholas, The Age, April 2nd 2003

New CD
Album Cover - From Your Soul Shall I Part
"From Your Soul Shall I Part"
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Newmarket Music
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