Double Bill: MAS & Nat Bartsch

The Melbourne Women's International Jazz Festival is a festival which encourages and supports women as jazz musicians and composers.

MAS (Melbourne Amplified Strings)

MAS (Melbourne Amplified Strings) was formed in 2019 by contemporary string players Xani Kolac (violin) and Anita Quayle (cello) to celebrate and explore the versatility of amplified stringed instruments. Using electronic effects and live looping, MAS presents new music and collaborations with guest artists over four concerts each year. They have performed with Wiradjuri Soprano Shauntai Batzke and Zimbabwean-born RnB vocalist Thando.

Recover features MAS compositions performed throughout the year, recycled and reinterpreted for amplified violin and cello. In this way, MAS gets the rare opportunity to perform newly composed music again and again, refining with every subsequent performance.

The second half will feature a collaboration with pianist Nat Bartsch.

Xani Kolac violin
Anita Quayle cello

Nat Bartsch's Lullaby Project

Melbourne pianist/composer Nat Bartsch’s Lullaby Project creates gentle music that explores the space between jazz and classical genres, influenced by music therapy. The resulting album, Forever and No Time At All accompanies the lives of many young families. To celebrate the limited release of Nat’s acclaimed album on vinyl, Nat will perform this music in a special sextet show designed just for grown ups, with some of Melbourne’s finest chamber jazz musicians.

Nat Bartsch: piano
Fran Swinn: guitar
Tamara Murphy: double bass
Maddison Carter: drums
Xani Kolac: violin/effects
Anita Quayle: cello/effects