Tour

This week I am preparing and rehearsing for a NSW/QLD tour August 5-7 by my trio with bassist Ben Waples & drummer Felix Bloxsom plus guest vocalist Elana Stone (pictured). Friday August 5 & Saturday August 6 we are doing a dinner/show season at the Bathurst Entertainment Centre in conjunction with Musica Viva Australia. On Sunday August 7 we will close the Cool Nights, Hot Jazz festival at Brisbane Powerhouse which I curated.

Limelight profile

For those living in Australia there is a featured profile on me in the August issue of the ABC's Limelight magazine.

Those of you who did not hear the track from my new as-yet-unreleased CD posted earlier might like to check that post again to hear it. Quite a bit of feedback is building in the Comments and I welcome further responses.

Freedman Jazz Award

After attending the finalists' concert last night at the Sydney Opera House, and having reviewed their recordings and project proposals and interviewed them about the latter, I and the other two judges Jonathan Zwartz and Hamish Stuart gave the $20,000 2005 Freedman Jazz Award to pianist and composer Matt McMahon.

Viola and interview transcript.

Being Composer-in-Residence at the International Viola Conference & Competition in Newcastle last weekend was a wonderful experience. It was so rewarding to work with three outstanding young violists on my music. A real highlight was witnessing the performing and teaching brilliance of the international resident violist Helen Callus.

A live interview I did for community radio in Sydney has been transcribed and can be read here.

Festival

More information

Viola

This weekend (July 8-10) I will be attending an International Viola Conference in Newcastle, NSW presented by the Australia & New Zealand Viola Society (ANZVS). The conference opens on Friday night with a recital by distinguished violist Deborah Lander with pianist David Miller. Her recital includes the world premiere of my piece Night Songs for viola and piano which was commissioned jointly by Deborah and ANZVS. During the weekend the finals of a viola competition will be held. The finalists are each required to play a movement from my Night Songs, and I will accompany them for these performances on the Saturday. On the Sunday I will contribute to a forum called "Composing for the Viola".