The aim of the Perth Jazz Society is to further the interest in and appreciation of jazz, to encourage and assist in the live performance of jazz, and to promote the knowledge of jazz through specific development projects. We proudly acknowledge major sponsors Government of WA, DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE AND THE ARTS & LOTTERYWEST.
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Gig Archive
TOM O'HALLORAN TRIO (CD Launch) Members Only Sundowner at 7:00pm
Mon 3 Aug 2009 @ 8:00pm
Admission Members $10 Student members $5 Guests $15
The phrase We Happy Few is from Shakespeare's Henry V. The soliloquy from which it is taken also surmises metaphors held deep in the music; brotherhood, existential meaning, strength of mind, war or conflict and spontaneity.
THIS second album We Happy Few, released by the Tom O'Halloran Trio, explores darker textures, improvisational interaction with electronics and continues the catalogue of unique compositions that is making this group identifiable.
It’s initial release was in Sydney at The Basement, on the Jazzgroove Records label, and has been widely played on radio across Australia and online, including ABC Classic FM's Jazztrack, and is also available on Itunes.
When not touring with Australian singer songwriter Pete Murray, O'Halloran leads this original jazz piano trio outfit and also conducts orchestras from time to time, composes new classical music, plays wild old analogue synthesisers and even rock guitar. This trio evening is likely to exhibit all those elements - somewhere.
With Tom on We Happy Few are his original support - Pete Jeavons on double bass and Daniel Susnjar on drums. All believe they still share firm common ground from which to explore new material despite now living in separate locations. Perth based Pete Jeavons was a finalist in last year's Wangaratta Jazz Awards; Daniel Susnjar is on full scholarship at the University of Miami, USA, completing his performance Masters degree (and has recently played with Joshua Redman.)
Tom O'Halloran has been playing in trios in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth and most recently been part of the new band Soundgun (with Jonathan Zwartz, double bass, and Evan Mannell, drums.) This group debuted at Wangaratta in 2008.
On the new album Tom collaborated with composer and percussionist Josh Hogan, using a `MAX patch' live in the studio. The program was based on delay lines, granular synthesis and random integers to affect pitch and rhythm. The intention is to build or simulate a model for how an electronic persona (in this case a laptop computer) could `respond' to the trio audio an idea he will no doubt develop and refine more in the future when working with improvisation and interaction.
Fellow pianist Mike Nock says of Tom:
"Gifted with big ears, formidable technique and a free wheeling conception, pianist/composer Tom O'Halloran should be on the must hear list of anyone interested in hearing the best of what current Australian jazz has to offer."
What the media says:
"More than any other of the many qualities this music boasts, it snaps and crackles with drama... You find yourself hanging off every note as if gripped by a thrilling narrative," - John Shand, Sydney Morning Herald.
"(O'Halloran and Susnjar) played superbly together, with drive and lift, and the particular sparkling excitement that the best of this kind of jazz can generate," - John Clare.
"(Tom O'Halloran is) retaining his own identity via his original compositions...there is a youthful buoyancy weaving intricate colours and textural contrasts," - Peter Wockner, ABC Limelight magazine.
"Pianist, composer and conductor Tom O'Halloran led his trio in a sparkling set full of rhythmic teamwork, subtle or sudden gear shifts, zipping pace and dancing lyricism that has characterised the jazz piano trio tradition," - John Clare.
"At least as good as this trio's excellent debut, but a different beast: We Happy Few is quirkier, more bracing, even more alert. Uncommonly intelligent electronic manipulations are an occasional element, but at core this is a splendid example of conversational music making by three friends... Hats off to the sound engineers, too."
".. Another piece of good news for anyone new to Tom O'Halloran.... Speaking as one who has seen him in some very varied contexts over the years, I know that as a `live' performer he is consistently `right there, in the moment'. Some capable keyboardists occasionally remind me of typists; Tom never has," - Doug Spencer, producer presenter The Weekend Planet, ABC Radio National.