INSIGHT
An improvisation series, curated by Adam Simmons
An improvisational series of an occasional nature, featuring masterful artists creating music right in front of the audience and sharing something of their inspiration along the way. Curated by woodwind specialist and data maverick, Adam Simmons, these concerts are for those who enjoy the delight of surprise and discovery.
INSIGHT is co-presented by The Usefulness of Art
About Adam Simmons
Adam Simmons is a data analyst, artist, educator, curator and advocate, involved across many different scenes within Melbourne and beyond, performing jazz, punk, new music, traditional Japanese honkyo-ku, funk and free noise/improv. Artists/ensembles that Adam has performed with include Nigel Kennedy, Peter Brotzmann, Gotye, Spiderbait, Arcko Symphonic Orchestra, Australian Art Orchestra, Tony Gould, Sandy Evans, Intrarti String Orchestra, Christbait, The Pearly Shells and many more. His own ensembles have included Origami and the renowned Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble.
Adam has worked in dance (Graffiti Dance Company, Danceworks), theatre (Melbourne Workers Theatre, Lloyd Jones) and as a sculptor, represented in the National Museum in Szczecin, Poland and a selected finalist in several Australian art awards. Adam has worked as artistic director for events including Wangaratta Festival of Jazz & Blues and Festival of Slow Music.
Adam is co-founder/editor of Dingo, a national magazine celebrating Australia’s jazz sector, and has just completed his Graduate Certificate in Data Science (RMIT).
PAST CONCERTS
8PM THURSDAY 31ST AUGUST
ALESSANDRA GAROSI, PIANO
TICKETS $33
BAR OPEN FROM 7PM
Alessandra was born in Siena, Italy in 1965.
Her musical background is purely classical, but her piano career evolved into researching and exploring various musical fields, from ethnic to jazz. Her international stage performances have been as a soloist as well as in many ensembles, playing mainly cross-over and contemporary classical repertoire.
In 2010 Alessandra met Australian multi-instrumentalist Adam Simmons, with whom she started recording and performing intensively. They played as a trio with the percussionist David Jones on many occasions, as part of festivals such as the “Slow Music Festival” in Ballarat and MONA FOMA in Tasmania. In the same year, Alessandra was part of the North Italian “Altre Note”, Festival and Masterclass, where she met the cellist Samuli Peltonen, with whom she started music collaboration. In this context she performed with the clarinetist Inigo Alonso, flutist Stefano Parrino and the violist Jouko Masnerus.
Currently, Alessandra lectures on chamber music at the Piacenza Conservatorium, where she has been also part of the Erasmus International Academic Council on exchanges; she is still part of the Academic Council in Piacenza Conservatorium.
https://www.alessandragarosi.com/
8PM THURSDAY 4TH MAY 2023
MIYAMA MCQUEEN-TOKITA
Miyama McQueen-Tokita, koto, voice
with guest Ryan Williams, recorders
MIYAMA MCQUEEN-TOKITA (JAPAN)
“Music is an old friend that grows with me and knows me inside out. It's also a kaleidoscope that allows you to see things in different ways and find your own meaning in it.”
Koto & bass koto player and improviser, Miyama McQueen-Tokita performs contemporary works, improvisation and original music, fusing tradition with ideas relevant to the present day. Based in Japan, Miyama has also been active in countries including Canada, USA, Australia, and various parts of Europe. Her solo album SONOBE features new and existing works for the koto, and is a result of her working with composers from various backgrounds to create music for the koto in styles that have not yet been explored. In 2019, as grantee of the Asian Cultural Council New York Fellowship, she immersed herself in the experimental, free improvised and new music scenes in NYC.
RYAN WILLIAMS
“I love music. The sounds, the rhythms, the listening, the communities, the styles, the creativity. Music makes my life whole.”
Ryan Williams is a recorder & ocarina player, improviser, composer, interdisciplinary performance maker, researcher, educator, and arts producer. His creative practice focuses on improvising and composing music, and creating exploratory transdisciplinary projects with artists and communities. Ryan performs and creates within improvisatory & exploratory music, site-specific/installation contexts, traditional music from Eastern Europe, Japan, Ireland and the U.S, western art music & jazz, popular folk music, and video game music. He has performed at major Australian and international festivals including Falls Festival, Setouchi Triennale (Japan), Antwerp Fringe Festival (Belgium), Woodford Folk Festival, and regularly performs with leading arts companies, including Sydney Symphony Orchestra, ELISION Ensemble & Snuff Puppets.
8PM WEDNESDAY 2ND NOVEMBER 2022
KARI IKONEN
Award-winning Finnish pianist, composer and moogist Kari Ikonen (b.1973) is one of the key figures in European jazz & improvised music scene. Currently active as solo pianist, with his own trio, duo with clarinetist Louis Sclavis, and with Orchestra Nazionale della Luna and Quartet Ajaton, he has also worked for example with Lee Konitz, Ra-Kalam Bob Moses, Tony Malaby, Ingrid Jensen, Vincent Courtois, ADDA Simfonica, Sinfonia Oulu and the UMO Jazz Orchestra. Kari has performed widely on all continents except Antarctica, and in about 30 European countries. His playing and/or compositions have been recorded for more than 50 albums. Mr. Ikonen is also an inventor - the revolutionary Maqiano™ Microtuning System is allowng him and other pianists to explore with the Arabic maqamat and other microtones on acoustic piano!
”Kari Ikonen is quite an original in today’s jazz panorama”
-New York City Jazz Record (USA)
”Innovative and idiosyncratic pianism”
- DownBeat (USA)
“Kari Ikonen is a deeply heartfelt pianist who is constantly searching for beauty. He finds it very often.”
- Jazz Journal (UK)
“Kari Ikonen shows a sparkle and gently questing spirit that engages the listener"
- Stuart Nicholson, Jazzwise (UK)
www.kariikonen.com