The Umbrellas (jazz ensemble)

The Umbrellas are an Australian jazz ensemble formed in 1985 to play Peter Dasent's compositions. The group has published five full-length albums. All are still available, the first four as rereleases.[1]

The Umbrellas
OriginAustralia
GenresJazz
Years active1985–present
MembersPeter Dasent, James Greening, Andrew Robson, Andrew "Wilks" Wilkie, Zoe Hauptmann, Steve Elphick, Toby Hall

Sydney, Australia based, the group's style has been described as unpredictable, quirky, surreal, and influenced by Italian film music.[2] The band members improvise in order to flesh out the characters in each composition's "play".[3]

The Italian connection is reinforced by the Bravo Nino Rota tribute album and by founder Dasent himself. As he states in a Jazz Australia interview, "In 1976 my local cinema, in a moment of inspired programming unusual in Wellington, New Zealand, at the time, took to screening Fellini films on Sunday nights. I would watch these amazing creations, and then find myself singing the theme music all the way home. When I moved to Sydney in 1981 I heard Hal Wilner’s wonderful tribute album Amarcord Nino Rota, with the sublime piano solos by Jaki Byard, Bill Frisell’s interpretation of “Juliet Of The Spirits” (actually his first recordings) and of course Carla Bley’s arrangement of 8 1/2. By then I’d realised I was listening to music that I would live with for the rest of my life."[4]

Instruments
  • James Greening, trombone
  • Andrew Robson, saxophone
  • Zoe Hauptmann, bassist
  • Toby Hall, drummer and vibes
  • Ian Wilkie, marimba[2]

Discography
  • The Umbrellas (1986)
  • Age of Elegance (1990)
  • Soundtrack to the Passing Parade (1992)
  • Bravo Nino Rota (2001)
  • Lounge Suite Tango (2015)

References
  1. "THE UMBRELLAS". peterdasent. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. "The Umbrellas - 'Lounge Suite Tango'". Radio National. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  3. Zwartz, Tim Byron, Paris Pompor, John Shand, Barney (13 October 2015). "Spectrum CD reviews: Eagles of Death Metal, Greta Bradman, The Umbrellas". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  4. Kee, Joanne (19 August 2016). "Rota's Fellini scores come to life - Jazz Australia". Jazz Australia. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
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