Zoe Frater

Premiering at the 2007 Melbourne Women’s International Jazz Festival (MWIJF) at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, the Zoë Frater Quintet brings together some of Melbourne’s finest musicians. The ensemble brings to fruition new works by electric bassist and composer Zoë Frater. Journeying through a musical landscape founded in rich melodic themes, the quintet explores the multitude of textures within the “small big” band setting through improvisation and strong rhythmical development. Drawing on the diverse influences of Bill Frisell, Paul Motian, Steve Reich and The Police, Frater’s compositions proposition the notion of direction but not dictation of each musician’s voice within the ensemble. The quintet has performed at renowned jazz venues around Melbourne, including The Paris Cat, Uptown and performances for The Melbourne Jazz Co-Operative. Frater’s most recent work includes music for quintet and voice having premiered at Bennetts Lane with guest artist Carl Pannuzzo in December 2008. Performances since then have included a full house reception for the Melbourne Jazz Fringe Festival at venue Cafe 303 in May of this year, as well as July residency at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club. These performances culminated in a live recording by the Royal Melbourne Institute of Tafe (RMIT) inconjunction with PBS Radio.