composing and arranging
Project Zarathustra
2021-22
Featuring Henry Cameron (g), Charlie Rank (b), Ollie Ledi-Hanane (d), Chris Rozakeas (tr), Mia Barham (b.s), Jaaz Tobias (t.s). Filmed by Agatha Yim @ Polyphonic Pictures.
Richard Strauss and Frederich Nietzsche were influential to me in my developing stages as a musician. I wrote just over 60 minutes of big band music as a textual adaptation of Thus Spoke Zarathustra. During this time I worked with Vardan Ovsepian, an amazing composer, thinker, and world-class pianist, and Tim Davies, who is someone you should know about, if you don't already (especially if you are an Australian). You can listen to a bootleg recording of 8/12 tunes above.
For those out there interested in the music or philosophy, I also wrote a large thesis on how I combined the music with the story. It will be up here soon enough.
reeds: Julien Wilson, Rob Simone, Jaaz Tobias, Zac O'Connell, Mia Barham
trombones: Callum Mintzis, Chris Roz, Nick Meyer, Michael Potter
trumpets: Alex Royds, Thien Pham, Ashley Ballat
rhythm section: Oliver Ledi Hanane, Blakely Mclean Davies, Henry Cameron, Patrick Britton
engineer: Pat Telfer
Parker With Strings
2023
I was asked to transcribe and arrange the music of the two Parker with Strings albums for string quartet and rhythm section + alto saxophone as soloist. It was a really successful endeavour, and I will continue to play the music of these albums as the arrangements by Jimmy Carrol and Joe Lipman are simply superb.
Mel Torme Swings
Shubert Alley
2023
I heard this album, and decided the arrangements were too good not to transcribe, so I started transcribing it and arranging for big band.
Mel Lewis - drums
Bill Hood - baritone saxophone