Michael Johnson
Harpist and composer, Michael Johnson has been performing in major concert venues and festivals throughout Australia. He has been the resident musician at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne for over a decade, performing in the Harp the Gardens recitals and was instigator of the Twilight Music concert series, providing his music for thousands of overseas guests and visitors.
As well as a concert performer, Michael has been working in the field of music for meditation . His tranquil harp music has been an integral part of the Mindfulness Music program at the Gawler Foundation for over twenty years.
His compositions are regularly aired on national radio and television.
He has performed alongside an eclectic combination of artists such as JUDY JACQUES, JANE RUTTER, JAMES MORRISON,KATE CEBERANO, WILBER WILDE, KAVISHA MAZZELLA, VICTORIA STATE OPERA, DAVID HERSCHFELDER, THE MELBOURNE WELSH MALE CHOIR , SUZANNE JOHNSTON, DONALD CANT...just to mention a few. He has performed as a guest artist on many CDs but most notably on albums by GREAHAM GOBLE (Ex. LITTLE RIVER BAND) and DAVID JONES.
Go to Michael's site
Evripides Evripidou
Evri works as one of the most in demand musicians in Australia, working not only as a bass player, but as producer, composer and educator. He holds a degree in improvisation from the Victorian College of the Arts where he also teaches bass guitar, and is also a member of the Faculty of music at Monash Universtity. He also runs Emotion Records where he records and produces many artists' music as well as his own projects.
"...Evri transcends the usual role of the bass with his musicianship, creativity and the sheer beauty of his playing. The vibe he creates lifts everyone around him..." James Morrison
David Jones
David is often described both here and abroad as being one of the most innovative and musical drummers in the world, a true virtuoso musician. His mesmerising drum solos are dramatic, humourous, surprising and powerful. In the hands (and feet) of David Jones, the drum kit comes alive as a mini-orchestra, vaudeville act, rhythmic explosion and hypnotic trance-inducer, all in one. Using sticks, brushes, mallets, fingers, elbows, violin bow, dishmops, toys, brooms and any percussion he can lay his hands on, David creates a universe of sounds, textures and rhythms that take you through different cultures, ages, moods and styles. A true virtuoso musician, David has toured nationally and internationally and has performed and recorded in the genres of rock and pop, jazz, classical, cabaret, theatre, television and improvised works. Playing alongside such artist as : James Morrison, John Farnham, Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Marcia Hines, Tommy Emmanuel, Don Burrows, Debra Byrne, Rhonda Birchmore, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Larry Adler, Pyramid, Don McLean, Don Burrows, Crossfire, AtmaSphere, MSO, SSO, WDR Big Band
Go to David's website
Fiona Burnett
Soprano saxophonist Fiona Burnett is a remarkable and unique musical voice. Since emerging onto the Australian jazz scene in the early 1990s she has rapidly gained recognition for her striking original sound and her dynamic, expressive and virtuosic improvisations. Her area of specialisation, performing on the soprano saxophone, is rare as there are few other instrumentalists anywhere in the world to perform exclusively on the soprano. Since 1996 she has released seven critically acclaimed CDs and written a number of large-scale hybrid works combining both improvising and classical ensembles. Although originally from Sydney, Fiona was drawn to Melbourne in 1992 by the vibrancy of its creative music scene. During her Master's degree she had the opportunity to study both classical saxophone and contemporary classical composition. Both these areas of study have been very influential on her development as an improvising musician. Fiona's first release for ABC Jazz, Soaring at Dawn, was composed in 1999 and recorded live at the 2001 Melbourne International Jazz Festival. The album features the Fiona Burnett Trio and the Silo String Quartet and received an APRA Award nomination in 2004. In 2005 Fiona released counterpoint, featuring her trio of Ben Robertson and David Jones
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Doug de Vries
Doug de Vries Jazz, classical and Brazilian guitar styles have always informed Doug de Vries'
mastery of his instrument; excelling as composer and guitar player
in many genres from jazz to choro, samba and bossa nova, and is considered
Australia's leading exponent of Brazilian guitar repertoire.
Go to Doug's site
Light of the Moon Duo
Light of the Moon Duo comprises Michael Johnson on harp and Evri Evripidou on six string bass and guitar.
Drawing influences from Ireland, Spain, South America and from Classical and Folk traditions - through to Jazz and contemporary styles.
Michael Johnson and Evripides Evripidou have a reputation both here and abroad,
performing in major concert venues to packed audiences
As soloists and session musicians they have supported or individually played alongside such artist as James Morrison, Fiona Burnett, David Herschfelder, David Jones, Christine Sullivan, Graeham Goble, Suzanne Johnston and Kate Ceberano.
Go to Light of the Moon duo's
Inventions in Time
Since being launched in 1996, Invention in Time has performed extensively across Australia and in Europe. The duo features Kate Adam and Ariel Valent. Their debut European tour in 2001 included the following highlights: performing alongside world renowned marimba players at the International Percussion Festival in Belgium two performances at Hotel Sonnevanck, a beachside institution in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands a special performance in Frankfurt, Germany, an intimate show at Club Voltaire, an old leftist club, in Frankfurt, followed by a red-hot jam with local and international musicians, and appearing as special international guests at the Percussive Arts Society’s Days of Percussion in Stockholm, Sweden.
Go to Invention in times' site
Vinod Prasanna and Glen Kniebeiss
Vinod hails from the ancient city of Varanasi, India where he was born into one of India's greatest flute-playing families, the renowned Prasanna family, who have continued a rich tradition of bansuri and shenai playing for more than two and a half centuries. Vinod continues this legacy. Through years of study with his grandfather Pandit Vishnu Prasanna and his uncle Pandit Rajendra Prasanna, Vinod's music pays homage to both ancient and contemporay Indian music. Glen Kniebeiss is currently active as a tabla player and tabla teacher in Melbourne. He plays at festivals and concerts around Australia, and internationally. Glen performs regularly with many artists in Melbourne, as well as high level artists on tour from India such as Pandit Debiprasad Chatterjee, Raka Mukherjee, Sri Paritosh Pohankar and Sri Sangeet Mishra. Glen is also performing with aboriginal band Yilila from Numbulwar, Arhnem land.
Go to Vinod's site
Go to Glen's site
Andrew MacGregor
Australia's first shakuhachi Master, started shakuhachi training in 1985, and concentrated on music handed down through Zen Buddhist tradition. In 1993 Andrew changed the course of his life and travelled to Japan where he spent an intensive period of study as uchi deshi (home student). Andrew MacGregor conducted his first solo recital in 1995, and since then has actively performed in Australia and Japan. Although he loves traditional Japanese music, his interest has extended more to contemporary music and to help free the shakuhachi from its traditional setting. Andrew MacGregor has produced six CD’s under his own name and was a finalist in the 2003 All-Japan National Music (Hõgaku) Competition.
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Tony Gould
Dr Tony Gould's career stretches over more than 30 years of achievement. He has more 13 original recordings under his belt, including collaborations with some of Australia's most eminent jazz musicians including John Sangster and David Jones, and has supported some of the biggest names in jazz, from Dave Brubeck to Oscar Peterson. His full orchestral version of Dylan Thomas'Under Milk Wood was premiered by the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra
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Imogen Manins
Imogen Manins is an uncommonly gifted cellist, with a formidable grasp of the standard classical repertoire as well as a wonderfully creative and innovative musical mind. This has led her to collaborations with a number of Australia’s most outstanding improvisers, and an exploration of new musical ground for cello. With an Australian Postgraduate Award Imogen completed a Masters in Music Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2002, studying with the distinguished cellist Nelson Cooke, and writing a thesis on Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu.
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Rod Quantock
Rod Quantock is one of the reasons that Melbourne is the live comedy capital of Australia. As a pioneer of stand up comedy, Rod has more than thirty years experience working in cabaret, theatre, television, radio. His unique brand of political satire haspoliticians running for cover. His live shows are predictably box office hits at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and festivals throughout the country.
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Ben Robertson
Ben Robertson: Australia's foremost double bass player, credits on over 60 jazz and commercial CD releases, performed in diverse situations with artists such as James Morrison, and visiting artists Lee Konitz, American Broadway diva Barbara Cook, singer
Kavisha Mazzella
Kavisha Mazzella is an ARIA award winning singer songwriter who does not believe in world music.It's just music!!! Music unites us and creating imaginary titles such as world music is devisive She is unafraid to cross musical boundaries and create community experiences in her shows.She first came to National attention with her appearance in the Franco Di Chiera documentary " Joys Of The Women" in 1993. Drawing on her rich Mediterranian heritageshe createscontemporary songs with haunting melody and lyrical depth. While her early influences come from the singer songwriter tradition of the likes of Sandy Denny,Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen, over time due to her passion for italian regional folksong,she has absorbed influence from the East with its modal tones and ecstatic singing styles of Indian,Arabic, Southern Italian and Gypsy influenced song and links these with western folk music influences.
Go to Kavisha's website