Listen & tracks
4 of 12 tracks have a preview · 8 works · 42:25
-
1 Waves Graham Jesse 4:26
-
2 Flutter Graham Jesse 2:23
-
3 Ripples Graham Jesse 2:03
-
4 Convolution Graham Jesse 3:11
-
5 Chromatic Flight Graham Jesse 2:35
-
6 Contemplation Graham Jesse 4:59
-
Latin Flute SuiteGraham Jesse 3 movements11:22
- 7 Bossa Flauto 3:34
- 8 Silly Galloot 4:04
- 9 Savusavu 3:44
-
Jazz Flute SuiteGraham Jesse 3 movements11:26
- 10 Don This 3:27
- 11 Waltz 4:18
- 12 Flutist Blues 3:41
For this project Graham has drawn inspiration from many areas of his musical experience, from Bach, Telemann and Mozart through to Don Burrows, Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock.
The first six tracks are melodic explorations of different moods and textures, with a contemporary approach. The next three form a Latin suite, and the final three a jazz suite. Jesse’s booklet notes place the pieces at the meeting point of classical technique and jazz inflection, always with a melodic focus.
In the artist’s words
For all of my musical life I have enjoyed many facets and genres of music, as a listener, player and composer. As a young saxophonist I was influenced by many of the jazz greats, and as a young flutist I was influenced by many of the classical greats. My early compositional studies focussed on the classical tradition. These flute and piano pieces are a manifestation of my love of different genres. Some explore instrumental techniques and musical patterns, some are programmatic – and always with a melodic focus. Virginia and Simon have done a beautiful job with their interpretations and I hope you enjoy listening to them.
Reviews
When was the last time you mentioned Bach, Telemann, Don Burrows and Chick Corea in the same breath? Odds on it's never. But for veteran Australian performer, arranger, producer and composer Graham Jesse, they are all facets of the inspiration for Chromatic Flight, his new project for piano and flute. Interpreted and performed by the masterful Virginia Taylor (flute) and Simon Tedeschi (piano), the album is made up of two neatly defined halves. The first is a series of six programmatic vignettes, each embodying its title exactly as promised. Flutter features a flutter-tongue flute motif, Waves ebbs and flows in a graceful triple time, and the title track is indeed a flurry of semitones. Here is where the baroque and classical influences reside most securely, and yet the harmony is always more progressive than those composers ever dreamed of. The second half consists of two flute suites: one Latin, the other jazzy. Both are delightfully jaunty, but never cocky – sounding strangely effortless despite their energetic syncopation. If Chromatic Flight has an overarching flaw, it is that it’s over too soon: a deeper dive into those image-laden motifs and rambling jazz melodies would have been more than welcome. ★★★★
Here is a short disc of thoroughly amiable duets for flute and piano, unassuming music treated with consideration if not much flamboyance by a couple of distinguished Australian artists. The performances are smooth ... Bob Scott has achieved a fair balance between the players, Tedeschi’s work not being under-played and Taylor’s flute allowed a vivid amplitude without over-miking; you’re not conscious of chuffs or breathiness. Indeed, the calm surface of the CD may go some way to explaining why I think it – or parts of it – may fit the afore-mentioned Satie performance conditions.
It is positive to see a whole recording dedicated to new Australian music for the flute. Jesse, Taylor and Tedeschi are to be congratulated for bringing this project – clearly a labour of love – to fruition. Standout tracks in the first half of the program include Flutter, a clever exploration of flute flutter tonguing underpinned by jazz chords and rhythm, and Contemplation, in which a gorgeously phrased flute melody from Taylor soars above Tedeschi’s uneven, arpeggiated accompaniment. This track felt to me like the score to a short film, conjuring up long camera shots panning over moody, melancholic landscapes.
Artists
Virginia Taylor
flute
Virginia Taylor has been described as one of the most exciting flautists to appear on the concert platform in recent years. She has received numerous awards, performed with leading Australian orchestras and toured extensively at home and abroad.
Graham Jesse
composer
Graham’s career as a prolific performer, composer, arranger, producer, and major contributor to Australian music, spans more than 30 years.
Simon Tedeschi
piano
Simon Tedeschi is one of Australia’s most renowned classical pianists, winner of the Young Performer of the Year Award (Australia), the Creativity Foundation’s Legacy Award (USA), and the New York Young Jewish Pianist Award.
Digital booklet
Digital booklet Notes, texts and credits — read online or download the PDF Download the PDFPerformers
- Virginia Taylor · flute
- Simon Tedeschi · piano
Technical credits
-
Recording Engineer
Bob Scott
-
Mixing Engineer
Bob Scott
-
Mastering Engineer
Bob Scott
-
Venue
Electric Avenue
-
Credit
Benjamin Huie
Details
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 42 minutes 25 seconds
- Release date
- 20 Aug 2018
- Category
- Classical
- Musical work copyright
- © 2018 Graham Jesse
- Sound recording copyright
- ℗ 2018 Move Records
- Catalogue
- MCD 582
- EAN
- 9314574058222
More to explore
Character Interludes
Virginia Taylor and Timothy Kain present a Southern Hemisphere program for flute and guitar, pairing Argentine and Bolivian guitarist-composers with Australian works by Phillip Houghton and Elena Kats-Chernin.
Complete Bach Flute Sonatas, Vol. 2
Acclaimed artists present superb performances of the complete Bach flute sonatas.