Claire Cross: Into Light

Bringing together some of Melbourne’s most exciting improvisers including Freedman Fellowship nominee Flora Carbo (saxophone/bass clarinet) and trombonist Jordan Murray, Claire Cross presents her latest project ‘Into Light’, a darkly-hued, immersive suite exploring the theme of hope and the complexities of struggle. With swells of lush textures interwoven with improvisation and delicate melodies, Into Light is inspired by ambient-chamber ensemble works, with a subtle jazz sensibility.

This work draws heavily on Claire's Icelandic, European and Australian artistic influences and establishes her place in the unique lineage of 'guitaristic'-bass players, who are expanding the compositional possibilities of the instrument and challenging the traditional role of the electric bassist.

The Into Light suite was commissioned in 2019 by the Melbourne International Jazz Festival with support from their Take Note program and premiered at the Festival in the same year.