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| Andy Young Quartet Signs with Hardrush Music The Andy Young Quartet have signed with ARIA label Hardrush Music. The first CD to be released will be “Downside Up”, a 10 track recording of just over one hour duration of sparkling class jazz. AYQ comprises Andy Young on jazz guitar, Sean Brady on drums and percussion, Hamish Stevenson on upright double bass and Kelly Ottaway on piano and vibes. With all four having studied at Music schools at conservatories and tertiary institutions the Quartet are more than competently grounded in their instrumentation and skills, but it is that innovative flair that makes great jazz that shines through on this recording. All compositions are from Andy Young with styles across the jazz spectrum ranging from swing to bossa to traditional. Hardrush are very happy with the recording with CEO Kelvin Fahey stating “This is an inspired work of superb jazz. We are very proud of this recording which is up there with the greats of Australian progressive jazz.” Others have compared the CD as a modern day jazz contemporary of the John Butler trio. The album was recorded over three sessions at Benjafield Collective Studio, (Hobart, Tasmania) under the engineering genius of Don Bate. The story behind the CD is something in itself. Andy tells it straight “The four of us had never played together before, but I knew Sean and Kelly from music school and they recommended Hamish for the gig. These sessions were done with a minimum of fuss, maximum enjoyment and no rehearsals. Thus we've been able to capture the freshness and spontaneity of a live performance.” 'Downside Up' will be formally released by Hardrush in November with national and international distribution. In 2004 Australian jazz guitarist Andy Young made the ultimate “exchange” -from 20 years in Queensland's famous Sunshine Coast resort town of Noosa Heads to the tiny community of Glen Huon in southern Tasmania's Huon Valley. Opting for a rural lifestyle in much cooler surroundings, Andy found time to add to the rich tapestry of Australian jazz composition with songs spanning the full range of mainstream jazz styles - blues, ballad bossa, bebop and swing. The recording “Downside Up” represents the pick of the tracks from this period. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Jazz News :: home page |