Ben Carr's High Five

Historical article recovered from a Wayback capture dated 2018-02-24.

1998 - 2000.

Studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne.

1999.

New Blood, avant garde trio formed and led by Adam Simmons.

2000.

New Blood release debut album ‘Heavy Water’, tour Eastern Europe and performed at the Wangarratta Jazz Festival.

2001.

Archaeopteryx, led by Classical Harpist Diane Peters toured Holland and France after the successful release of their self titled album ‘Archaeopteryx’.

Joined the Bucketrider Bigband and performed John Coltrane’s ‘Meditations’ at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and Melbourne International Jazz Festival.

2002.

Formed the Ben Carr Trio. An invite from S.I.M.A. led to a tour of the Australian east coast. The trio performed for the Melbourne Jazz Co-Op, The Make It Up Club, S.I.M.A. and the Press Club in Brisbane.

2003.

The Adam Simmons Toy Band was formed combining the Jazz Big Band with toy instruments, spontaneous choreography, general and overall sonic mayhem, Origami, vacuum cleaners, giant balloons and fireworks! The band released their first album Happy Jacket in 2004, toured regional Victoria, performed for S.I.M.A, St Kilda Festival, Wangaratta Jazz Festival, Meredith and Queenscliff music festivals.

2004.

The Ben Carr Quartet featuring Sam Bates, Michael Meagher and Eamon McNelis, was formed. The quartet recorded 1 album entitled ‘Speed Demon’ and performed for the Melbourne Jazz Co-Op and Jazzgroove association in Sydney.

2005.

Traveled to London and New York City. Studied with George Garzone, Donny McCaslin and David Binney.

2006.

A second quartet banded, featuring the formidable improvisational forces of pianist Erik Griswold, drummer Ken Edie and bassist AJ Hall. The band focused purely on improvisation. The group recorded two sessions in 2007, and played the Melbourne Jazz Fringe festival in 2008.

2007.

New Blood perform Brisbane Valley Jazz Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival.

2008.

A new trio featuring local Melbourne stalwarts, Leigh Barker and Phil Collings was formed. Ben Carr Trio perform Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival.

2009.

Ben Carr Trio release debut album ‘The Year We Turned It On’ at Uptown Jazz Cafe,Fitzroy.

2012

Melbourne Choro Group, ‘Trio Agogo and friends’ release ‘The Story Of Old Benji Constant’ at the Paris Cat Jazz Club, Melbourne. Travelled to NYC, studied with Seamus Blake and Joel Frahm.

2012.

‘St Art’ independent release by Ben Carr Trio launched at the Wesley Anne, Northcote.

1. WORLD SAXOPHONE QUARTET - 1989/90

The original eye opener. My teacher played me the album Dances and Ballads, and the dissonance put me right off with no ability to perceive what I was hearing. But he convinced me to witness the gig with him. It may have been a pivotal moment in my life, stearing me well away from my ambitions of being an Airforce Fighter Pilot and taking the saxophone more seriously.

2. IAN CHAPLIN/PHILLIP REX/SCOTT LAMBIE – Brisbane, 1995

These guys played sometime in Brisbane and introduced me to the power, excitement and attitude that can come from a saxophone led jazz trio.

3. SCOTT TINKLER TRIO - 1998

Simon Barker and Adam Armstrong! Such an amazing combination. I remember watching Simon and Adam interact and pondered how the $%#! do you do that?

4. BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET - Village Vanguard NYC, 2004.

I’d been watching ‘Steep’ on VHS! since the 90’s and loved the quartet with Kenny Kirkland. Unfortunately Kenny Kirkland passed away before I could see the quartet with him. But this was a spiritually uplifting gig, there was a strong presence in the room, and I felt as though the John Coltrane quartet was actually on the stage.

5. WAYNE SHORTER QUARTET - Palaise Melbourne, 2010 ?

Danilo Perez, John Patitucci, Brian Blade. Another gig with a presence, for me a continuation of the 1970 miles band, like Miles was in the room guiding the flow of energy. One big continuous 90 minute set full of power, grace, virtuosity and ‘Effortless Mastery’ ha ha ha.