Quartet Brings “Fire” to Honour Mark Simmonds

Matthew Ottignon Quartet Pays Tribute to Mark Simmonds’ Album, “Fire”.

Almost 30 years since Australian jazz icon Mark Simmonds released his only studio album, “Fire”, the Matthew Ottignon Quartet are performing their arrangement of the ARIA award-winning album on February 3, at Foundry 616, Ultimo.

The quartet is led by Matthew Ottignon on saxophone. A talented multi-instrumentalist, Ottignon also leads his own band, Mister Ott, with critically acclaimed projects such as “Tread Lightly”. He is also an honours graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Ottignon is joined by three exceptional jazz musicians – Tom Avgenicos on trumpet, Jonathan Zwartz on bass and James Hauptmann on drums, all suited to bringing the magic of Simmonds’ album to life.

“Fire” is considered one of the finest and genre-defining jazz albums in Australia. Simmonds and his band, the Freeboppers, created an outstanding jazz collection, drawing from sounds of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane and Archie Shepp. Adding rock and world music elements, he forged a masterpiece.

Birdland Records said of the album, “An essential Australian jazz cd by one of the few genius’ I’ve ever heard play… Every song they recorded at this session is on this 2 disc album. Mark’s compositions, musicality and downright genius are heard on this album.”

Journalist John Shand said of Mark Simmonds, “Perhaps the most potent musician Australia has produced on any instrument in any idiom or era, and one of the world’s key tenor saxophonists of the past 45 years… Simmonds poured every atom of himself into each solo, and the effect across a concert was cumulative, leaving people both traumatised and exhilarated by music that was variously furious, wildly celebratory and devastatingly sad”.

The Matthew Ottignon Quartet are set to reignite Simmonds’ album with the ferocity and passion that Simmonds showed in his live shows, and are sure to please, move and captivate.

Who: The Matthew Ottignon Quartet Presents Mark Simmonds Fire

When: Thursday, February 3, 8:30pm.

Where: Foundry 616, Harris Street, Ultimo.

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