Adam Simmons Debuts Work in World Premiere Of 'The Calling'

Acclaimed Melbourne composer, Adam Simmons, will perform the world premiere of his new work, The Calling, at fortyfivedownstairs from May 3-6.

Featuring the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble together with the Afro Lankan Drumming System (Ray Pereira and Kanchana Karunaratna), The Calling concerts promise to be a thrilling treat for lovers of contemporary jazz, classical, avant garde and experimental music.

Inspired by sounds and experiences from Simmons' first-time visit to Sri Lanka in 2016, this will be the most intensely personal of his works to date. While the main reason for his trip was to attend a drumming workshop led by Ray Pereira, he also spent time travelling through his mother's homeland. An epiphany he experienced while visiting a Sri Lankan temple was a pivotal moment in his sense of belonging and understanding: "I felt like after growing up in Australia and my previous travels through Europe that it filled in the other half of who I am, where I'm from, and my identity as an Australian artist. I've never really expressed the Sri Lankan side of my heritage; until that trip I hadn't felt the connection or the right to express it in a conscious way. But now I feel I can make some sense of it, and The Calling is really a reflection on my identity and heritage."

The Calling will be the fourth in his acclaimed The Usefulness of Art concert series. Comprising five unique and original concerts over 2017-18, The Usefulness of Art is inspired by a Rodin quote, and is the driving force behind Simmons' formidable musical career.

The first three concerts have elicited rapturous praise from critics and audiences alike, including The Age's Jessica Nicholas: "... another marvellously assured step in Simmons' own journey as musician and composer, and a potent demonstration of the usefulness - no, the necessity - of art as an expression of our collective humanity."

A 5-star review by Raphael Solarsh of Arts Hub effused: "Simmons' music is rich and evocative with the cinematic string arrangement given a grittier and more tactile edge by saxophony that spanned subtle breath all the way to unrestrained wail."

Classical Reviewer Clive O'Connell wrote, "At a time when really adventurous musical events are rare, this night was a breath of fresh air, leaving you elated with its accomplishment," and Des Cowley, Australian Book Review, described the second concert as, "... a triumph in every way".

A virtuoso player of saxophones, clarinets, flute and shakuhachi (Japanese flute), Simmons stretches the boundaries of modern composition and infuses a sense of wonder and playfulness into musical art forms better known for their gravitas. His performances are not so much 'concerts' as staged auditory spectacles-drawing audiences in to share in the uniquely communal power and euphoria of his music and art. He has a rare and uncanny ability to elicit the very best from the highly accomplished musicians he works with, as well as evoking spine-tingling emotion and rapturous applause from audiences.

His concerts are joyous, inspired cross-genre collaborations with virtuoso musicians and theatrical artists. Previous concerts have involved not only his eclectic Creative Music Ensemble (in which his father, Paul Simmons, plays saxophone) but also artists of the calibre of Michael Kieran Harvey, the Arcko Ensemble, and Diokno Pasilan.

For The Calling, the Adam Simmons Creative Music Ensemble and the Afro Lankan Drumming System will be joined by Vikram Iyengar (choreographer), Jean Poole (visuals), Sally Blackwood (dramaturgy) and Christine Crawshaw (costumes) for an astounding theatrical and musical experience.

This project is supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program.
Adam Simmons
A virtuoso player of saxophones, clarinets, flute and shakuhachi (Japanese flute), Adam Simmons stretches the boundaries of modern composition and infuses a sense of wonder and playfulness into musical art forms better known for their gravitas. His performances are not so much 'concerts' as staged auditory spectacles-drawing audiences in to share in the uniquely communal power and euphoria of his music and art. He has a rare and uncanny ability to elicit the very best from the highly accomplished musicians he works with, as well as evoking spine-tingling emotion and rapturous applause from audiences.

His concerts are joyous, inspired cross-genre collaborations with virtuoso musicians and theatrical artists. Previous concerts have involved not only his eclectic Creative Music Ensemble (in which his father, Paul Simmons, plays saxophone) but also artists of the calibre of Michael Kieran Harvey, the Arcko Ensemble, and Diokno Pasilan.

Ray Pereira is one of Australia's leading percussionists. He has performed with Kate Ceberano, Paul Kelly, John Butler, Vince Jones, Renee Geyer and many others. He runs International drumming camps in Ghana West Africa with Nii Tettey Tetteh and in Sri Lanka, and is a recognised expert on West African and Afro Cuban drumming. He is also the creator of Afrolankan Drumming System with Sri Lankan drummer Kanchana Karunaratna.

Ticket prices: Full $35, concession $30, Early Bird discount $30, children (under 12) free

Ticketing URL: http://www.fortyfivedownstairs.com/wp2016/event/the-calling/

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