Abstracting 'groove' and 'melody' within the jazz organ trio

Non-Traditional Research Output

Original Creative Work

Document Type

Non-Traditional Research Output

Date of Publication

2021

Location of the Work

Perth

Research Statement

Research Background

This practice-led music research represents several years of steadily refined ensemble artistic practice, and expansion on established practice. Classic ‘hard-swinging’ jazz organ trios such as Jimmy Smith, Joey DeFrancesco, Medeski, Marin & Wood have tended not to embrace other subtle or more free jazz elements within their performance practice to a high degree. The aesthetic produced by the TLC trio intersects with the conventional jazz organ troupe, but also aligns with more abstract iterations - such as the Ellery Eskelin Trio, Sam Yahel and Garry Versace groups. This research was propelled by the question of how to make this group sound increasingly distinctive; through incorporating more experimental free jazz elements that abstract 'groove' and 'melody'. The project recording represents the inquiry involved; and the question was pursued via substantial musical composing, practising, group experimentation and rehearsal, live performances, a studio recording, editing and mixing.

Research Contribution

The research challenges conventional aesthetics in 1) the use of free tempo sections to prelude then interrupt typical swing (‘Will Vinson’), 2) motif transformation composition (‘TLC’, ‘Wil Vinson’), 3) rubato contrapuntal guitar melody and organ accompaniment lines used to abstract standard jazz melodies (‘You don’t know what love is’). 4) Less conventional harmonic modes, grooves, metre changes and phrase lengths were also incorporated - causing non-traditional improvisation forms (‘Straight with the Eighth’, ‘Surman’, and ‘Spies’). Ultimately, the research contributes to current discourse around what the jazz organ trio is and can achieve; both in terms of texture and musical gestures.

Research Significance

The work was competitively selected to début as part of the 2020 Perth International Jazz Festival. Reviews are ongoing. It was also selected to be featured on ABC Jazz, heard both nationally and internationally.

Publisher

Tom O'Halloran

School

Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)

RAS ID

35956

Funders

This project was supported in part by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University.

Event Dates

November 7, 2020

Event Venue

There Is Gallery, Perth, WA

Additional Information

TLC Organ Trio: Freddie Grigson - Guitar Tom O'Halloran - Organ Chris Tarr - Drums

Released May 31, 2021

Recorded 19-21 February, 2020.

Engineered, recorded, mixed and mastered by Kieran Kenderessy.

Album artwork by Annie Mitchell. Photography by Chris O'Halloran.

Duration

75 mins

Comments

Grigson, F., O'Halloran, T., & Tarr, C. [TLC Organ Trio] (2021). TLC. Australia: Tom O'Halloran.

https://tomohalloran1.bandcamp.com/album/tlc

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