Ken Allars's High Five

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

Ken Allars is one of Australia’s most in demand young jazz trumpeters, performing regularly throughout Sydney with many of the finest musicians in the country. Winner of the 2011 Generations in Jazz Scholarship, and the Jazz Prize at the Melbourne International Festival of Brass 2010, Ken has recently returned from a semester on exchange at the Jazz Institute Berlin and is in his final year of study at the Sydney Conservatorium. Last year Ken recorded an album with the Mike Nock Trio Plus, entitled ‘Hear and Know’, which won Best Independent Jazz Album at the Independent Music Awards 2012.

“Mike Nock has uncovered a formidable talent; a young trumpeter who thinks unique melodic

thoughts.”

• John Shand, SMH.

Ken has also recently recorded an album with The Cooking Club, leads his own trio, and is playing in multiple other projects. In 2012 Ken was one of three finalists nominated for Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year at the Bell Awards, and is a recipient of the Big Brother Jazz Award Scholarship for 2012/13. Ken is looking forward to using the scholarship money to travel around Europe, continuing to create lots of music and musical contacts.

1. SIMON RATTLE & THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA – Berliner Philarmonie: Mahler 2 “Resurrection”, February 2012

Mahler’s 2nd Symphony has been one of my favourite pieces of music for a number of years, since having the chance to perform it in Tasmania at the AISOI (Australian International Symphony Orchestra Institute) in 2009. When I found out the Berlin Phil were playing it conducted by the legendary Simon Rattle, I knew I had to see it. After failing to buy a ticket, I turned up to the concert hall an hour and a half before the show to line up for the uncollected tickets, which go on sale 5 minutes before the concert starts. I managed to get a half price ticket right in the middle of the A reserve section and sat down seconds before show started. The whole symphony was incredible and faultless. I’ve never felt such strong emotions through music as I did in this performance, easily the greatest musical experience I’ve had.

2. THE NECKS – WABE Theatre, Berlin, November 2011

I’m a big fan of the Necks, and had seen a few shows in Sydney prior to this one. They played two sets of music at this gig. The first was great, very similar to the other gigs I had seen. The second set however, was on another level. Tony Buck was playing some incredible textures, layer on top of layer of beautiful continuous sounds. Chris Abrahams played swirling washes of piano that became more dense harmonically as the piece went on, while Lloyd Swanton held the band together with a simple rhythmic figure. Quite often The Necks music builds to an amazing climax and gradually tapers down to end. This piece continued to accelerate until the very end when the whole band stopped at the same time and the sound of the drums and piano rang out until complete silence. It was a very dramatic performance and left a big impression on me.

3. D’ANGELO – X-TRA, Zurich, February 2012

I have a bit of a soft spot for neo soul, and so seeing D’angelo on his comeback tour was a must. The band included Chris Dave, Pino Palladino and Jesse Johnson. After about an hour and a half of amazing music, the band left the stage, and D’angelo came out and played another half hour just solo keys and vox. He played a medley of all the hits from Brown Sugar and Voodoo, which really showed what a talented musician he is. The band then came back out to join him for another half hour or so of music, almost 3 hours in total, it was unbelievable!

4. SHOWA44 - Bohemian Grove, June 2012

Showa 44 are one of my favourite bands in Sydney, I try not to miss any of their performances. This duo consisting of Simon Barker and Carl Dewhurst always leaves me with a profound feeling of inspiration. I find that their music takes me into a kind of meditative state and I don’t feel the urge to be critical or analyse the music in any way. I am just free to enjoy the performance and let my mind wander for a little while, this always leaves me feeling refreshed. This specific gig was especially inspirational as it was in the small and cosy space of Bohemian Grove and I was sitting right in front of the band.

5. PHIL SLATER QUARTET - the old 505, September 2009

I was in my first year at the Con when I saw this gig. My first, and most memorable, time seeing Phil’s quartet. I think this was the moment where I realised the real strength and beauty that accompanies having a unique and individual sound, as every member of this quartet does. What else struck me was the control and use of dynamics of this band, not many musicians sound that good at both ends of the spectrum. It was overall a very special gig at a very special venue that has left me inspired for a number of years.