Bank on these Prophets
THE polyphonic sounds of masked Melbourne/Sydney ensemble Prophets will be just one highlight of this weekend’s second Hobart Ah Um festival of jazz, experimental music and art.
Designed to encourage collaboration between musicians and visual artists, and create dialogue between audiences and performers, Hobart Ah Um will include performances by 14 visiting and local acts, featuring some of Australia’s most interesting and well-respected musicians — including the mysterious members of Prophets.
Known for their unique approach to collective music-making, Prophets employ group improvisation and polyphonic sounds featuring saxophones, drums, percussion and self-made instruments.
Each member of Prophets is a respected experimental and jazz musician in their own right, but together they combine to create something bigger than the sum of its parts. Every Prophets performance is unique, as theatrical as it is musical. They play at 10pm on Saturday.
Hobart Ah Um will be headlined by the Melbourne-based Senegambian Jazz Band, which features six musicians from five countries — Senegal, Ghana, Ethiopia, Gambia and Australia.
The band is led by Amadou Suso, who is a direct descendant of the world’s first kora (African-style harp) player. Known as “the Jimi Hendrix” of the instrument, Suso is a “jali’’ — one of the oral historians and musicians of the Mandinka tribe of West Africa.
Some of Hobart’s best musicians are also on the bill, including Chloe Alison Escott, the Harry Edwards Trio, Pip Stafford, The Stitch, Greg Kingston, Katy Raucher, Rugcutters, Stranger Still, Maggie Abraham, Ashwood/ Kingston/Robb and DJ Puffy Pank.
The festival will also present a number of free artist-led workshops and talks — including a “city sound walk’’ with Jim Denley, Dale Gorfinkel and Nick Ashwood (2pm on Saturday); a talk about the kora and Amadou Suso’s role as a jali (12.30pm on Sunday); and a West African dance workshop with Julius Sackey (2pm on Sunday).
Hobart Ah Um will take place at the disused old Cinema One (underground in Murray Street) from 2pm on Saturday and 12.30pm on Sunday. Two-day festival passes are $30, go to www.hobartahum.com for bookings and to register for workshops.