PERFORMANCE 'AZIMUTH' SUITE

A vastly different kind of musical mettle is needed to adapt reed and vocal harmonies and the broken rhythms of modern jazz to the moods and textures of a contemporary painting.  Pianist/composer Clare Hansson has risen to the challenge with her jazz-based composition, Azimuth, which had its premiere performance at the Queensland Art Gallery on Tuesday night. 

Azimuth runs for 50 minutes in two distinct movements, and the rich and jagged contrasts in the painting were highlighted by special lighting as the musicians performed.  A standing ovation followed the final number, Undo Voodoo, a delightful mambo-influenced piece in standard 4/4 time.  The applause was for Hansson and the collective efforts of vocalist Sue Wighton, reeds player Jim Mackenzie, percussionist Bernardo Alvarez, drummer/percussionist Bob Watson and artist Irene Amos who joined the musicians on stage.  Azimuth is not a jazz composition as such – rather a rich pastiche of musical impressions embracing classical, jazz and Latin elements.  The feeling of freedom still came through in the 12 intricately scored and excellently played pieces, and in the use of varied percussion instruments.

Neville Meyers