Brisbane jazz ensemble, Laique will visit Toowoomba on 13 February to open the University of Southern Queensland’s 2013 Twilight Series.
Founded in 2006, the group takes their inspiration from 1930s Paris jazz and the flamenco music of Spain.
Laique songstress, Kylie Southwell explains, “in the beginning, our music was largely arrangements of traditional folk tunes from around the world, drawing strongly from the music of Eastern Europe, Spain, France and Africa.”
“We came across the French word ‘Laique’ which in ancient Greek, means ‘of the people’, and just loved the notion of performing the ‘music of the people’.
“As we began to write original material, particular themes began to emerge and we decided to hone our individual styles to create a sound which was unique to us and spiced with our earlier influences.”
A Jazz Voice graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Kylie has performed everything from pop to hip hop and funk before resolutely returning to jazz.
“I love the music of Django Reinhardt and am inspired compositionally by a fabulous movie called Les Triplettes de Belleville.
“The film had scarcely a skerrick of dialogue and the most wonderful jazzy soundtrack - I simply wanted to make music that recreated the wonderfully sweet and dark atmosphere of the film paired with the feisty brilliance of French Manouche.”
The group’s flamenco music influence comes from guitarist, Gerard Mapstone who studied classical guitar at the Conservatorium.
“Gerard has spent years immersing himself in the gorgeous gypsy music of Spain, even travelling there to take intensive daily lessons with Flamenco masters.”
Laique’s Toowoomba recital will feature an all-original program of songs which tell wonderful stories with delightful melodies.
“I feel strongly about ‘creating’ a space where the music and the stories are at home with each other.
“We hope our audiences find a spark of familiarity about the feel or style of the songs, as they are based (somewhat nostalgically) on the jazz music of the early 1900s.
"The music this era contains some of the most romantic, uplifting and heartbreaking songs.
“It was an inspirational era of music and change, when women were beginning to embrace newfound roles and question their identities, to bear their knees in short dresses, socialise freely, carry hip flasks and dance the Charleston!”
Laique will appear at the Twilight Jazz Recital on Wednesday 13 February at 6pm in the USQ Arts Theatre.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 concession, $14 student, $9 child and can be purchased through the USQ Artsworx Box Office on 07 4631 1111 or on-line at www.usq.edu.au/artsworx
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