Album of the Week – ‘Mooroolbark’ by Barney McAll
‘Mooroolbark’ by Barney McAll is Eastside Radio’s Album of the Week.
The album takes its core inspiration from McAll’s upbringing, most notably naming the album after his hometown. More importantly, the artist aims to pay tribute to the impact the location had on him musical pursuits; “They [The Wurundjeri people] lived in the area, which is about 37 km east of Melbourne, for around 50,000 years before I arrived. The very last part of a 50,000 year time lapse would be sad to watch because so much environmental and spiritual damage would occur towards the very end. However, I decided to call this album Mooroolbark because, for many reasons Mooroolbark is why I play music”. The release serves as a homecoming for McAll following a 17 year stint in New York playing alongside the legendary city’s finest musicians. The time, distance, and experiences collected along his travels serves as the intricate details interlaced throughout out each individual track, held together by the distinctive stylings of the composer/ pianist and favouring the complimentary genre’s of Jazz, Gospel and Afro Caribbean music.
ARTIST LISTING:
Barney McAll piano (all tracks), vocals (track 1)
Julien Wilson tenor sax (tracks 2–7), alto clarinet (track 7)
Stephen Magnusson guitars (tracks 1–7)
Jonathan Zwartz bass (tracks 1–8)
Simon Barker drums & percussion (tracks 1–7)
Mino Cinélu percussion (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 7)
Hamish Stuart drums (track 8)
Shannon Barnett trombone (tracks 6, 7)
TRACK LISTING:
1. Nectar Spur
2. February
3. Coast Road
4. Jendhi
5. Non-Compliance
6. Poverty
7. Transformations
8. Apple Tree (live version)
9. Mooroolbark 1974
Bonus Tracks (available exclusively on iTunes):
10. Apple Tree (studio version)
11. Sparkler
You can catch Barney McAll and his newly formed outfit ‘ASIO’ (Australian Symbiotic Improvisers Orbit) on the 25th of July at Venue 505. The group will feature Mcall on Piano and Chucky, Julien Wilson on Sax, Jonathan Zwartz on Bass, Stephen Magnussen on guitar, and Simon Barker on Drums.
You can follow Barney McAll’s career via his website https://barneymcall.com/ OR TWITTER.
Check back in to the Eastside Podcast tab to hear presenter Peter Smetana’s interview with McAll talking about the album, touring and his time abroad pursuing his musical career.
Be sure to tune in this week to 89.7FM EASTSIDE RADIO for your chance to WIN a copy of ‘Mooroolbark’ by Barney McAll. You must be a supporter to win so make sure to sign up at https://eastsidefm.org/support-us-2/. Don’t forget you can also stream the station at www.eastsidefm.org.
