Aidan Curtis
MUSIC lovers will be able to learn a bit more about jazz history as part of the Mount Gambier Fringe.
Fi and Frenz will return to the Mount Gambier / Berrin stage after a stint at the Adelaide Fringe to showcase the works of jazz legend Carmen McCrae.
Vocalist Fiona Unger said while McCrae is not the most well-known jazz musician, her works are still recognisable to this day.
“She’s a great jazz legend, the jazz world considers her as important and as great as Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, but she was a decade behind them,” Ms Unger said.
“She’s a bit of an unknown, but her story behind why she made her music and why her music sounded like it did, is part of the presentation.
“We’re hoping for people to come along and listen to some really popular jazz standards from the 40s through to the 90s and get a little bit of music education as well.”
Fi and Frenz pianist Marie Holmes said the show is coming together thanks to some big names in jazz, with Mount Gambier local Graeme Lyall doing the arrangements and renowned saxophonist Bill Harrower set to join the band on stage.
Mr Harrower has played with musical icons such as Frank Sinatra, Liza Minelli, Sammy Davis Jr, and recorded on John Farnham’s Whispering Jack album.
“We had a rehearsal with Bill on Saturday, we were both quite nervous to play with someone of such a high level,” Ms Holmes said.
“Once he started playing his saxophone, it was just an incredible experience.
“It just gives us confidence and validation that what we’re doing is good.”
Ms Unger said while it was incredibly exciting to be playing with such a talented musician, it was also just exciting to see the Mount Gambier Fringe back and thriving.
“We’ve done Adelaide Fringe for the last couple of years, but poor old Mount Gambier Fringe suffered Covid and we haven’t been able to do that,” she said.
“[We’re looking forward to] just sharing our music and the joy that we have on stage with the locals.”
Fi and Frenz will be performing at the Mount Gambier Bowls Club from 8pm on Saturday, April 1.
