Robbie Melville’s smallCHESTRA is the latest project from Melville, winner of the Instrumental Category of the 2018 International Song Competition. The six members of the smallCHESTRA explore the meeting point between folk melody, jazz harmony and textural improvisation through a series of compositions written by Melville that allow and encourage spontaneous interaction, introductions and endings as soloists, duos and trios.
Featuring Melbourne jazz veterans Ronny Ferella (drums), Tamara Murphy (bass), Robbie Melville (guitar), Gideon Brazil (tenor saxophone, alto flute) and Flora Carbo (alto saxophone/bass clarinet), and classical cellist Zoe Knighton, the smallCHESTRA creates a spectacular range of dynamic and timbral possibilities in a relatively small package, and blurs the barriers between contemporary folk, jazz and classical.
“Think Frisellian-cowboy-quirkestra ambling along with a cup of tea in one hand and a stein of beer in t’other. On a horse”. – Tamara Murphy