Since 1999, Pianist ANDREA KELLER and her quartet – comprising Eugene Ball on trumpet, Ian Whitehurst on tenor saxophone and Joe Talia on drums – has demonstrated all the hallmarks of a successful outfit; skill, passion and determination. This had led to an admirable level of success.
With three ARIAs and two Bell awards under her belt, Keller can also add a glittering international itinerary to her CV, having performed in Germany, Denmark and Japan both with her quartet and as part of the Australian Art Orchestra. She has also received numerous commissions from highly regarded jazz and classical ensembles such as Mike Nock’s BigSmallBand, Ten Part Invention and the Seraphim Trio to name a few.
“It’s definitely a growing thing,” Keller says. “I didn’t hit the ground running. I studied for a while and did a lot of recording which opened up opportunities for touring. This led to playing at jazz festivals around the country and I got myself known well around the jazz scene.”
With Australia conquered and her name regarded as one of the country’s greats, she ventured overseas to perform in the Czech Republic after winning the MCA/Freedman Foundation Jazz Fellowship in 2001. According to Keller, Europe is a must-do for any jazz or classical fanatics out there.
“There’s really more of an audience for it over there than there is here. Even though we’ve got an enthusiastic audience here it is really small in comparison to what it is over there,” Keller reveals.
Capitalising on this, she ventured to Ireland, Scotland, Germany and Denmark with her quartet and performed with the Australian Art Orchestra in Japan. In the spirit of ‘giving it back’ Keller has also been helping out the Australian music scene with her commissioned work for the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Keir Foundation.
Now, in 2010, she is about to embark on her first headline tour with her quartet in support of their latest album, ironically titled Galumphing ‘Round the Nation. The shows to date have seen guest appearances from renowned jazz musicians Bernie McGann, Phil Slater, Stephen Magnusson, John Rodgers and Jamie Oehlers to name a few.
“Being in a jazz band isn’t an exclusive thing, like it is in other genres. A lot of people are solo artists and play with a number of people in their career,” Keller says. “We can pick up people along the way on tour; for example we played in Sydney last week and Sandy Evans, a saxophonist from Sydney, played with us who hadn’t played with us before. So people can jump in without much rehearsing.”
The Andrea Keller Quartet will play in the Band Room at the ANU School of Music on Friday September 3 at 8pm. Tix are $20/$15 conc available from the door from 7pm. Galumphing ‘Round the Nation is out now from places that sell music.
