City of Women

Composer: Deborah Conway and collaborators
Arrangements: Adrian Sherriff, Lachlan Davidson, Paul Grabowsky, Niko Schauble, Phillip Slater, Alister Spence
Premiére: Melbourne Concert Hall, Sun 28 January 2001, Melbourne International Jazz Festival (Director Adrian Jackson)

Program

Only The Bones (Deborah Conway, arr. Alister Spence)
Here In My Arms (Deborah Conway, arr. Adrian Sherriff)
It's Only A Dream (Deborah Conway, arr. Niko Schauble)
It's So Sweet (Deborah Conway, arr. Niko Schauble)
3 Love (Deborah Conway, arr. Adrian Sherriff)
City Of Women (Deborah Conway, arr. Philip Slater)
Evil Homer (Deborah Conway, arr. Paul Grabowsky)
By Then Dead (Deborah Conway, arr. Lachlan Davidson)
Las Vegas Tango (Gil Evans, arr. Sam Keevers)
Praying with Eric (Charles Mingus, arr. Sam Keevers)

Program Notes

City of Women finds the Australian Art Orchestra breaking down barriers between 'popular music' and 'jazz' with the active participation of one of Australia's most respected singer-songwriters, Deborah Conway.

Deborah recalls sitting down with Paul Grabowsky and her partner and collaborator, Willy Zygier, to play some of each others CDs :

"The idea Paul approached us with was to select songs from our canon and drag them kicking and screaming out of the pop world and into the contemporary music world that the Art Orchestra inhabits. It was an intriguing and flattering proposal, though it remained to be seen if the gap could be bridged. My concern was how interpreting something like It's Only The Beginning, which has become a ‘gold classic’, would sit; whether it could cross into an Art Orchestra piece or become mutilated in the attempt.

Paul, however, has been very perceptive with his choices. It's a great set list from my vantage point. These are amongst our more challenging and provocative pieces. To hear them scored and played by the Australian Art Orchestra is something I'm looking forward to immensely. And singing them with the AAO at the start of the new millennium is a prospect I anticipate will see musical boundaries collapsing around our ears!"

Tour History

2001 - Melbourne Concert Hall, Melbourne International Jazz Festival

Performance Artists

Bob Coassin Trumpet
Scott Tinkler Trumpet
Phillip Slater Trumpet
James Greening Trombone
Adrian Sherriff Trombone
Philip Rex Tuba
Sandy Evans Reeds
Paul Cutlan Reeds
Julien Wilson Reeds
Lachlan Davidson Reeds
Elliott Dalgleish Reeds
John Rodgers Violin
Willy Zygier Guitar
Paul Grabowsky Piano
Alister Spence Keys
Gary Costello Double bass
Niko Schauble Drums
Alex Pertout Percussion
Daryl Pratt Percussion

Collaborators: Deborah Conway, vocals/composer

Press for City of Women

Flawed Gem

The Age   (Jessica Nicholas)  29 January 2001

Earthiness and Sensuality

The Australian   (Kevin Jones)  2 February 2001