New generation of jazz hits town – Trio Apoplectic – Wed 14 May, 9pm Hippo Bar“Original, often exploratory, and very well played. Some of the playing is reminiscent of Sydney legend Bernie McGann’s trio.” **** 4 stars John McBeath, The Australian
Apoplectic, adj. of, resembling, or produced by apoplexy: an apoplectic fit. Extremely angry; furious.
You’d have to get on pretty well to survive a tour like this – 20 gigs in a month across 18 towns from Canberra to Cairns. That’s a lot of playing ‘I Spy’ in the Tarago knee to knee with a double bass and a drum kit. You’d expect more than a few fits of apoplexy. And yet saxophonist Dave Jackson, bassist Abel Cross and drummer Alex Masso do get on surprisingly well.
It is this intuitive connection between the three musicians that produces the exciting jazz that is Trio Apoplectic, comprising a diverse repertoire of jazz standards, original compositions and free improvisation.
The trio began in 2003 when Alex, Abel and Dave met studying at The Sydney Conservatorium ofMusic. Originally formed only for performances at the conservatorium it quickly became evident that the trio would continue outside the institution. Numerous tours later as well as a critically acclaimedself-titled debut album (through JazzGroove Records 2007) finds the guys (all in their 20s) rated as someof the hottest emerging talent on the Australian jazz scene.
Much in demand individually as superb musicians they have performed with some of Australia’s finestincluding Bernie McGann, Jim Denley, Lloyd Swanton, The Splinter Orchestra and Adrian Klumpes (fromTriosk). They have also performed at Jazz:Now Festival at Sydney Opera House and the Melbourne JazzFringe Festival. In addition to the regular trio format, the group has worked as a quartet with trumpetmaster Warwick Alder and has been involved in a project collaborating with a number of poets.
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