88x8 Novak Manojlovic and Adrian Lim-Klumpes

Novak Manojlovic & Adrian Lim-Klumpes are so renowned for the breadth of their musical & keyboard accomplishments that the opportunity of seeing them in solo piano format is rare & exciting. But how will each of them cope with having only one piano to play?

After early explorations co-leading a piano jazz trio & recording solo piano improvisations, Adrian expanded into exciting electronic & experimental formats. Then, last year, as one part of Chloe Kim’s magical 10 week series, a fortunate audience experienced Adrian playing TWO grand pianos simultaneously, his huge arms spread across the keyboards like massive wings of a giant seabird hovering above two glistening dolphins, a triumphant test of body, imaginative possibilities & technical accomplishment.

Fans of Australia’s supreme free jazz quartet, Believe, may have also seen Novak perform with two pianos. Being of normal physical stature, Novak sometimes places a tiny toy piano the size of a toddler’s potty on top of a normal piano, coaxing stabbing rhythms & arch yet sympathetic harmonic possibilities in thrilling interplay with his three fellow Believers. Admirers who recognise Gentle Novak as one of Australia’s most lyrical melodists & gifted composer-arranger-bandleaders eagerly anticipate the beauty he will coax from one normal piano. Or will he bring the little fella along to play too?