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“Truly one of the highlights of the day, the Melbourne-based group
managed to combine different styles seamlessly, succeeding where so
many other world music fusion groups fail.” Vancouver Sun, June 2008
“Vietnamese, African and a dash of the Middle East, all melded into Knight's original grooves” (4! stars) The Australian
“That these exotic sounds blend so well with jazz is a mysterious Melbourne alchemy” Sydney Morning Herald.
Sound Travellers, a much needed initiative providing touring support to
Australian musicians, once again brings the best of Australian jazz to
interstate venues this November with a tour by Melbourne ensemble Way
out West. Celebrated for their unique and alluring sound combining
Vietnamese, African and jazz influences, Way out West have just
returned from an overwhelmingly successful international tour that
included Montreal, Vancouver, and Veneto (Italy) jazz festivals and a
sell-out performance in Japan.
Trumpeter/composer Peter Knight and Vietnamese traditional music
virtuoso Dung Nguyen are at the heart of this remarkable collaboration.
Inspired by the cultural vitality and diversity of Melbourne, Way Out
West creates something miraculous, a truly new sound rather than a
pastiche of something pre-existing. The supple seamless vibes they
create easily transcend any glib notions of multicultural kitsch. Their
new album Old Grooves for New Streets (released on Jazzhead in
Australia and in Canada on Effendi) has been getting five star reviews
in Australia as well as some very favourable international attention:
“Certainly a candidate for Best Release of the Year - I hope lots of
ears hear this one!” All About Jazz New York.
Way Out West’s utterly unique sound features the hauntingly beautiful
timbres of traditional Vietnamese instruments the dan tranh (16-string
zither), and the dan bau (single string zither), played by Dung Nguyen.
Nguyen learnt music from his grandfather while growing up in Vietnam,
continuing a tradition of many generations. He came to Australia when
he was 16 and continued his studies at university where he developed a
love of jazz and won prizes for his guitar studies.
In addition to Knight and Nguyen, Way Out West also features
world-renowned West African percussion specialist, Ray Pereira, along
with other Melbourne music luminaries, explosive saxophonist Adam
Simmons, earthy acoustic bassist Howard Cairns, and young firebrand
drummer Rajiv Jayaweera.
“It's great writing for this line-up, there are so many sound
combinations to explore. Dung's instruments open up all sorts of
possibilities both texturally and atmospherically. Ray Pereira plays a
huge array of percussion instruments and all of them incredibly well,
and Adam Simmons plays tenor, soprano and baritone saxophones. After
two albums I feel like there is still a lot to explore with this group.
There's a real energy about it,” says composer Peter Knight.
“Way out West are indicative of the exciting music coming out of
Australia’s contemporary music scene and Sound Travellers is thrilled
to be part of the process of bringing it to audiences across
Australia,” says Joanne Kee of Sound Travellers.
www.soundtravellers.com.au
www.myspace.com/wayoutwestmelbourne
WAY OUT WEST
Tour Dates & Venues
Sun 2 Nov, 12pm
Wangaratta Jazz Festival
WANGARATTA
www.wangaratta-jazz.org.au
Sat 8 Nov, 2pm
Maddern Square
for Maribyrnong City Council
FOOTSCRAY, MELBOURNE (free)
Thu 20 Nov, 8pm
Jazz Dungeon
NEWCASTLE
Bookings: Call Robyn on 02 4962 1177
www.dungeonjazz.com.au
Fri 21 Nov, 8pm
Wollongong Conservatorium for IIMA 8.00 pm
Bookings: 02 4228 1122
WOLLONGONG
www.iima.org.au
Sat 22 Nov, 8.30pm
Seymour Centre for SIMA
Bookings: 02 9351 7940
SYDNEY
www.sima.org.au
Sun 23 Nov, 8pm
Milton Theatre
Bookings: 02 4455 3056
ULLUDULLA-MILTON
www.miltontheatre.com.au
Tue 25 Nov, 8pm
Goulburn Conservatorium
Bookings: 02 4821 8833
GOULBURN
www.goulburnregionalconservatorium.org
Wed 26 Nov, 8.30pm
Hippo Bar
Bookings: 02 6257 9090
CANBERRA
www.hippobar.com.au
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Saturday, 10 January 2009
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