Album Launch 'Fake it Until You Make It' - October 14
Divergence Jazz Orchestra launch their new CD - Fake it Until You Make ItFriday 14 October, 8:30pm Foundry 616 - 616 Harris St, Ultimo tix $25/$15 concession - tickets on sale now
What remains to be said about Divergence is that it enjoys an obvious advantage over most other contemporary jazz groups: like its very name it diverges from the crowd, it has its own rules and doesn’t follow trends. And so what we have is a group of young, fresh and exuberant composers and musicians who have joined forces to create their own exciting take on the world of jazz. When you hear this album you will be assured that jazz orchestras are alive and well, and as ‘happening’ as ever. - Samuel Cottell
Album available for purchase now
featuring:
CONDUCTOR - Jenna Cave/TROMBONES - Paul Weber (Co-Musical Director) Tim Coggins, Rose Foster, Luke Davis (bass)/TRUMPETS and FLUGELHORNS - Paul Murchison, James Power, Will Endicott, Paul Meo, Will Gilbert/SAXOPHONES and WOODWINDS - Loretta Palmeiro (alto, soprano, flute, clarinet), Melissa Mony (alto, flute), Dave Reglar (tenor, alto), Louis Klaassen (tenor), Tim Clarkson (baritone, flute, clarinet)/RHYTHM - Yutaro Okuda (guitar), Andrew Scott (piano), David Groves (bass), James McCaffrey (drums)
The Divergence Jazz Orchestra is made up of nineteen of Sydney’s most accomplished young musicians led by Jenna Cave (conductor/composer) and Paul Weber (trombone). Their sound brings the spirit and tradition of improvised jazz music to the 21st century big band; where captivating grooves, memorable melodies and expressive orchestrations are executed with outstanding musicianship and soul with rhythm as its cornerstone. Following a highly acclaimed debut album release in 2013, the Orchestra now releases 'Fake It Until You Make It' - a brand new CD, featuring original music composed by Jenna Cave, Brendan Champion, Luke Davis, Paul Murchison and Miroslav Bukovsky - performed by some of Sydney‘s most versatile young jazz musicians.
A jazz orchestra typically consists of four trumpets, four saxophones, four trombones and a rhythm section that includes piano, guitar, bass and drums. It is a cohesive musical group that provides a big, powerful sound. Itis also a framework that allows the key ingredients of jazz to unfold. This particular jazz orchestra, Divergence, was formed in 2011 by composer Jenna Cave and trombonist Paul Weber, their goal being to perform newmusic by jazz composers. The orchestra was set up to be a community that provided a space where composers and musicians could come together, explore ideas and make music.
Jenna Cave describes a jazz orchestra as 'a powerful, fun, exciting, emotional and awesome thing'. The evolution of the jazz orchestra has made it a more cohesive orchestral pallet of colours and sound, giving composers of the style much more scope within the framework. 'I think [the jazz orchestra] can be anything today. In the days of the big band/swing era, big bands obviously played mostly in one style, swing, but these days people use a jazz orchestra as an instrumentation rather than a group which must play in pre-prescribed style, ’ Cave says.
Each tune on this album contains that zest, energy and buzz that are at the core of Divergence Jazz Orchestra’s principles and affinity for groove that accentuates the validity and freshness of a jazz orchestra in today’s musical landscape. All of the compositions on this release show originality, and the mix of sound worlds vary from swing to New Orleans to gospel ballads featuring luscious harmonies, exciting writing and all of the features that make for a top-notch jazz album.
Welcome
Welcome to my new website!
Thank you to Ashley Marsh-Croft for the set-up and design.
2011 has been a very busy year for me full of new projects and ventures. To name a few: I was commissioned to compose three new works by the WA Youth Jazz Orchestra as the 2011 composer-in-residence, and they performed 5 of my works at the Ellington Jazz Club in Perth. I undertook a Grad Certificate in Screen Music at the Australian Film Television and Radio School and composed and recorded the music for two AFTRS film productions. I am now a represented composer with the Australian Music Centre who are publishing my sheet music, and my string quartet was shortlisted for workshop and performance at the Australian String Quartet's National Composer's Forum.
2012 should be an equally exciting year- to start it off I will be working on my first short film as a commissioned composer, and I am finally getting my act together and will be putting together a big band (with trombonist Paul Weber) to perform my large ensemble jazz compositions around Sydney.
Stay tuned!