bio
Rafael Karlen and West End Composers Collective
Founded by trumpeter/composer Laura Kahle and pianist/arranger Steve
Newcomb, the 10-piece West End Composers Collective began in 2003 as a
monthly gathering of Brisbane’s creative improvising musicians, composers and
arrangers to workshop original works at the Tongue and Groove cafe, West End.
With the success of these monthly gatherings, the growth in repertoire and a
grant from Arts Queensland, they launched their debut album “Downstream” in
February 2004. This launch supported internationally acclaimed artists Ingrid
Jensen (Trumpet) and Jon Wikan (Drums), on tour from the USA.
“Downstream” is a jazz-leaning tentet album which would hold
up very well, had it come from New York… This band can
certainly motor along when required, but this is definitely not a
set of “blaring” or “see how & fast we can go” music – it’s rich
& subtle, beautifully voiced, well-recorded & also blessed with
a fine, distinctive vocalist in Kristin Berardi.
Since the collective’s inception, it has appeared at Brisbane’s more established
venues such as The Zoo, Rics Cafe and held a regular monthly performance at the
Milk Bar in Paddington (now called the Living Room). In late 2004 they were guests at the Melbourne Women’s
International Jazz Festival, a performance broadcast live on ABC Radio National.
In 2006, the group was featured in concerts of original music written by
saxophonist Rafael Karlen at the Metro Arts theatre and Jazzworx club, both in
Brisbane.
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