Sharing a love of unusual jazz standards, and with a musical friendship stretching back several decades, Susan Gai Dowling and Paul Cutlan blend tradition and freedom in this intimate concert of duets. Between Susan’s expressive voice and Paul’s 4 octave bass clarinet, the pair explore the beautiful melodies, harmonies and emotive themes of classics by Gershwin, Strayhorn, Golson, Ellington et al.

For vocalist Susan Gai Dowling the challenge of performing a full concert accompanied by a bass clarinet is not a challenge at all. Susan has spent a career appearing with elite musicians here and overseas. For example, a trio of Bernie McGann on alto, Susan Voice and Carl Dewhurst guitar performed together for over 20 years. Many tracks on the six albums released by Susan attest to her adventurous musical spirit. Susan is delighted and excited to once again collaborate with reed maestro Paul Cutlan to produce magical interpretations of jazz classics and other special musical gems at 8 O'Clock Sharp.

Paul Cutlan is a multi-instrumentalist and composer specialising in improvisation, cross-cultural music, jazz and hybrid genres. A member of the Australian Art Orchestra for 15 years, Cutlan continues as a member of world music outfit MARA! after 28 years. His career has taken him to major venues and festivals in over twenty countries. Cutlan has performed with Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gurrumul, Lou Reed, Bobby Previte, Jim McNeely, and Ólafur Arnalds.

Contact the host of Susan Gai Dowling and Paul Cutlan at Eight O’Clock Sharp