The Music Council of Australia/Freedman Jazz Fellowship concert is one of the most important events on the Australia arts calendar. Each year, one of Australia’s finest jazz musicians aged thirty-six or under receives $15,000 and support from the MCA to pursue a musical project of their own design.
Jazz artists and educators from around the nation nominate musicians for the fellowship, and select four to perform at the final, which is held at The Studio, Sydney Opera House. This year’s winner was Sydney-based saxophonist Matt Keegan.
Winner: Matt Keegan
In his early twenties, Keegan spent several years touring the United States with rock band Pseudopod, supporting acts such as Live and OAR. He was invited to perform onstage with Maroon Five. In 2002, he and fellow Australians, drummer Dave Goodman and bassist Cameron Undy, formed the Matt Keegan Trio. The group has gained a keen following in Australia for its original funk-rock-jazz sound, having produced five albums, and is currently on national tour, launching The Matt Keegan Trio Meets Dave Ades.
For the Freedman Fellowship final, Keegan explored beyond the trio format, and wrote a new composition, The Freedman Suite. The piece opened with a striking saxophone solo – Keegan has the kind of full sound that reaches out to every listener in the room – before Cameron Deyell joined on twelve-string guitar. As the two gained rhythmic momentum, Keegan’s brother, bassist Tim Keegan, and drummer Dave Goodman entered the stage.
The twenty-minute or so long piece explored myriad of rhythmic and melodic ideas, from driving funky grooves to the airy ballad feel of its conclusion. Keegan’s composition provided space for each musician to express his unique voice, as well as interact with the group. In this way, the performance reflected his project proposal – he and several other musicians, of Australian and Indian origin, will spend weeks in a creative space in India, composing, jamming, exchanging ideas and recording, with a view to performing at international festivals such as Womad.
Tom O'Halloran
This desire to provide space for the expression of individual voices was evident, also, in the opening performance of the concert – that of pianist Tom O’Halloran. O’Halloran has toured nationally and internationally, in various groups, supporting acts such as Harry Connick Junior and Natalie Cole. In 2009, he was the director of Hymne A Piaf, which sold out in both Sydney and Melbourne. In the same year, he arranged the music for JONI, a Joni Mitchell tribute performed at the Sydney Opera House. At the Freedman finals, O’Halloran presented his jazz piano trio, featuring bassist Peter Jeavons and drummer Daniel Susnjar. The first piece was an intriguing improvisation, delivered with the high level of rhythmic interplay for which O’Halloran’s group is known. The second piece provided an immediate contrast, a gentle and beautiful ballad, displaying O’Halloran’s restrained, yet deeply sensitive articulation at the piano.
John Parker
Brisbane based drummer John Parker, who has performed with most of Australia’s renowned musicians, including James Morrison, Vince Jones, Anthony Warlow and Katie Noonan, presented the second act of the night. His well-loved trio, Misinterprotato, featuring bassist Sam Vincent and pianist Sean Foran, launched into a fun, dynamic and tightly-executed tune which Parker dedicated to his three year old son. The changing rhythms and playful melodies certainly seemed to capture the theme. Misinterprotato’s set included a range of innovative ideas, executed with precision and skill, and always adding an element to the overall musicality, from Sean Foran plucking at the piano strings, to Parker tapping on a glass canister that was part of his drum kit.
Ben Vanderwal
Drummer Ben Vanderwal, the fourth finalist, has toured the United States on several occasions, playing with Chris Potter, Manny Duran, Sam Yahel, Dennis Irwin and William Gallison, and is one of Australia’s most in-demand jazz drummers. For his Freedman set, he appeared with guitarist James Muller and bassist Alex Boneham. The three created a strong and powerful sound, with Muller’s harmonies and lightning speed guitar lines floating over Vanderwal’s driving rhythms.
This year’s MCA/Freedman Jazz Fellowship was certainly testament to the versatile and highly skilled talent that defines Australia’s jazz scene today.
Jasmine Crittenden - Jasmine Crittenden (B.A.)(Hons.)(First Class) is a writer and editor specialising in music, literature and travel.
