Melbourne's Finest Jazz and Classical Musicians Come Together for 'Echoes Of Earth' Album

An extraordinary new CD, which sees some of Melbourne's finest classical and jazz musicians coming together for one of the most ambitious recording projects staged at St Andrews Anglican Church, Brighton is soon to be released to the public.

The CD features 13 tracks in all showcasing the fruits of a new collaboration between Elwood flautist Jessica Zuk, pianist and composer Callum Watson and clarinetist Joel Hands-Otte. Works include three new piano trio compositions by Watson presenting a mix of both jazz and classical influences. Hands-Otte also contributes a profound bass clarinet arrangement of the jazz standard "God Bless the Child" written by Billie Holiday.

The CD concludes with an innovative new arrangement of Vivaldi's G minor flute concerto "La Notte" for flute and string quintet conceived by Melbourne composer Scott A. Aschauer with support from Zuk and Watson.

"All works on the release have been specifically orchestrated with the fine St Andrews acoustic in mind" says Watson. "Orchestrations play on the reverberance and enhanced musicality that the amazing space provides".

The CD will be launched at North Melbourne on Saturday 24 March (9pm) for the first show of an exclusive three-month residency at Club Voltaire with all three performers playing a recital on the night as part of 'Callum Watson Group'. CD's will be available for purchase at each performance of the residency.

Tickets for the event are $20 and can be purchased by visiting www.callumwatson.com.au/club-voltaire/. Spots are limited.