Monique diMattina (Image supplied)
CONCERTS PREVIEW: Monique diMattina performs two concerts in one day at Melbourne Recital Centre on Friday 29 November, at 1pm (solo piano) and 8pm (Songs and stomps from New Orleans)
It’s a busy time for Monique diMattina, who is just back from the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, where she co-presented Singer, Songwriter, Storyteller with long-time collaborators Clare Bowditch and Tommy Spender.
Before that she presented a set at the Cup Eve concert to wind up this year’s Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and Blues.
Soon, diMattina will perform on Thursday, 12 December, as part of the Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club.
She has also just begun a fortnightly segment on Lindy Burns evening show on ABC radio’s 774 , writing a song in an hour based on listener requests.
Using this well-honed skill, diMattina will similarly write a song during the interval of her evening concert on Friday, 29 November at MRC, utilising the 30-minute break to write a new piece in response to audience requests in the first half. What a buzz.
But that’s jumping ahead. There will be two diMattina concerts for the day:
1pm in The Salon, MRC, Solo Piano
This lunchtime concert will feature piano miniatures from diMattina’s albums Senses and Sun Signs as she explores her quieter side.
8pm in The Salon, MRC: Songs & Stomps from New Orleans
Joined by an all-star band of jazz and roots musicians, including guitar virtuoso Doug de Vries and R&B sax legend, Paul Williamson, diMattina will dip into her critically acclaimed 2013 release Monique diMattina in New Orleans: Nola’s Ark, which was recorded in New Orleans, with musicians from the bands of Harry Connick Jr and Dr John.
The MRC bills this concert as follows: “The humour, wit and charm of Melbourne pianist/chanteuse Monique diMattina unfolds note by note in this rambunctious collection of songs from her fifth album Nola’s Ark. Following a sell-out debut at Stonnington Jazz, this is a not-to-be missed event that showcases the cream of the Melbourne jazz/roots scene – fusing contemporary themes with a good time New Orleans sensibility.”
Nola’s Ark draws inspiration from traditional jazz, blues and R&B.
For more on Monique, read SHAKEN AND A LITTLE BIT REHEARSED on Ausjazz.
ROGER MITCHELL
Ausjazz Blog 