CHRIS ABRAHAMS & SAM GILL // JACHLO at Church Street Studios

CHRIS ABRAHAMS & SAM GILL // JACHLO

Join us for an evening of captivating duo and quartet improvisations, featuring four of Australia's most acclaimed and exciting improvisers!

Set 1: Chris Abrahams & Sam Gill duo, followed by Jachlo (Jacques Emery & Chloe Kim)
Set 2: Gill/Abrahams/Emery/Kim quartet

Doors at 7:30pm, music from 8pm.
Tickets available online and at the door. Full fare $25, concession $15.
BYO alcohol, please drink responsibly.

CHRIS ABRAHAMS & SAM GILL

Saxophonist Sam Gill (Microfiche) and acclaimed pianist Chris Abrahams (The Necks) join forces for their second duo meeting. The pair first collaborated in 2022, with Chris appearing as a guest artists with the electro-acoustic group Microfiche during their celebrated residency at 107 Projects. Stripping back to the acoustic duo format, the pair will present an improvised set that explores shimmering resonances, interlocking cycles and immersive lyricism.

JACHLO

Jachlo is the duo project of Sydney-based experimental composers and improvisers Chloe Kim and Jacques Emery. While they are primarily known as a drummer and bassist (respectively) highly in-demand in Australia’s jazz/improv/experimental scene, the Jachlo project allows an open platform for Kim and Emery to experiment with compositional forms and a wide palette of multi-instrumental colour. Earlier in 2024 they opened for Marcus Whale’s Ecstasy album launch at PACT.

ARTIST BIOS

Chris Abrahams (The Benders, Laughing Clowns, The Necks) is one of his generations most influential pianists, with a long career as an internationally renowned improviser and pianist. Chris has recorded also released a growing catalogue of solo albums, as well as collaborations with Melanie Oxley from the Sparklers. Abrahams has also been a session musician on albums for artists such as The Church, The Whitlams, Midnight Oil, Wendy Matthews, Skunkhour, and Silverchair.

Sam Gill is a saxophonist, improviser, composer and researcher based in Sydney, Australia. He leads the groups Coursed Waters & Scattered, is a member of the composer-performer collectives Microfiche & Mind on Fire, and has duo projects with electric bassist Joseph Franklin and drummer Simon Barker. Sam was a recipient of SIMA's Emerging Composers Mentorship in 2022, and was a finalist in the 2023 Freedman Jazz Fellowship, following his earlier nominations in 2020 and 2021. Sam received a PhD from Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2023.

Chloe Kim's recent compositions include Music for 50 Musicians (commissioned by SIMA), Music For Six Double Bassists (People Sound, 2024), and a commission for the Moirai trio. Her solo endurance performance at the MONA FOMA festival 100 Hours was nominated for a 2024 APRA Art Music Award for Excellence in Experimental Practice. Other collaborative projects include Sweet Tooth with Hilary Geddes and Jonathan Zwartz, Anatomical Heart with Erik Griswold and Helen Svoboda.

Jacques Emery's recent works include SUMMONING for solo amplified double bass, GIANT SHIMMER for drum kit, singing bowls and acoustic and electric guitars played with drumsticks, and The Wellspring for 7-piece improvising ensemble (commissioned by the Strata festival). He has played as a casual member of the double bass section in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the Zela Margossian Quintet, Sam Gill’s Coursed Waters, Novak Manojlovic’s NoMansLand, and Helen Svoboda’s Headwater.