Behind the Minds of Ellen Kirkwood's [A]part - Episode 2
Channel: SIMA
Date: 17/11/2021

Behind the Minds of Ellen Kirkwood's [A]part

“This is a major accomplishment for big band jazz in this country. The writing is superb on this enthralling, entertaining exploration of old and new sounds.”
–  4.5 STARS – ERIC MYERS, THE AUSTRALIAN

Purchase your copy here 👉 https://www.earshift.com/ellen-kirkwood-sirens-big-band...

Premiered in 2017 and released as a studio-recorded album in 2018, ‘[A]part’ is a four-part suite written by Ellen Kirkwood and performed by Sirens Big Band with special guests Sandy Evans, Andrea Keller, and Gian Slater.

Join us for a two-part online series, where we interview the creative minds behind this work, including Ellen Kirkwood, Sandy Evans, and Jessica Dunn. Following insightful discussions with artists, you’ll get to re-live the exciting premiere concert performance of [A]part through the lens of talented videographer and visual projectionist Cleo Mees.

Transcending genre, Kirkwood combines jazz, rock, afro-cuban, and contemporary classical to address topical issues through narrative composition. Each of the 4 sections of the suite sees Kirkwood address a distinct modern issue, including climate change and the refugee crisis. 

[A]part has earned high praise from national press, and earned Kirkwood and the band various awards and accolades.

Featured soloists:
Sandy Evans - saxophones
Andrea Keller - piano
Gian Slater - voice

Sirens Big Band:
Jessica Dunn - bandleader, double bass
Ellen Kirkwood - composer, trumpet, conductor
Laura Corney - alto and soprano saxophones
Melissa Mony - alto saxophone and flute
Ruth Wells - tenor saxophone
Harri Harding - tenor and sopranino saxophones
Phillippa Murphy-Haste - baritone saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet
Lisa Gori - trumpet
Kendal Cuneo - trumpet
Eleanor Shearer - trombone
Alex Silver - trombone
Jessica Ling - tuba
Yutaro Okuda - guitar
Claudine Field - percussion
Alex Masso - drums

Projected visuals and videography - Cleo Mees
Sound recording - Andy Fiddes
Sound mixing - Brian Campeau
Video editing - Ellen Kirkwood 

Sirens Big Band would like to thank the Australia Council for the Arts for their support, the generous donors who helped make this performance possible, and the wonderful staff at Io Myers Studio, UNSW. 

This performance took place on Bedegal Country within the Eora nation, and we pay our respects to First Nations Elders, past and present. 

Presented by SIMA, Sydney Improvised Music Association
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