
THIS collection of compositions by Rafael Karlen features 11 leading jazz performers from the highly active Brisbane scene, including the composer on tenor sax and flute. Two vocalists appear on a track each and are alone worth the price for fans of vocals: Hannah Macklin contributing her voice-as-instrument in the title track and the brightest new star on the Australian jazz vocal scene, Megan Washington, singing her lyrics in the ethereal Water and Time.
The album varies in style and mood from ballad pieces to rhythmic post-bop themes, well arranged, if not entirely original, and played with flair. Coffee Dance, dedicated to Brisbane saxophonist Tony Hobbs, opens with a series of solo baritone sax notes from Graeme Norris, developing into a slow ensemble riff taken up by Georgia Weber on double bass, and eventually moving into Mikael Strand's humour-injecting, faux-trad trombone solo.
Driving Hat - Brisbane West End Composers Collective. Pinnacles Music 3 and a 1/2 star review in THE AUSTRALIAN 27th Sept, 2008



