"The
sheer musical literacy of those involved seems to open up great vistas
of options in the approach to both improvisation and composition." John
Shand, Sydney Morning Herald . June 2000
Since
its inception upon Jonathan Dimond's return to Australia from overseas
in 1995, Loops has been defining and re-defining the nexus where improvisation
meets
composition, where jazz meets classical music, and where acoustic sound
meets electronic sound.
Consisting
of a core trio of Jonathan Dimond (electric bass, tabla), Jamie Clark
(electric and acoustic guitar) and John Parker (drums and percussion),
the band often augments itself with artists of such virtuosity and breadth
as John Rodgers (violin), Soumya Chakraverty (sarod), Gulfam Sabri (tabla)
and the classical ensemble Topology. Loops has also performed in collaboration
with projected film and early childhood theatre.
Loops'
unique and multi-faceted nature has made them popular participants
in such events as the "Pinnacles" Festival (1996, 2001); the Brisbane
International Festival of Music (1998, 2000); the Queensland Biennial
Festival of Music
(2001); Wangaratta Jazz Festival (2000). Loops was Ensemble in Residence
at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Griffith University (2000,
2001). Loops competed as state finalists in the ABC's inaugural "Improv
Awards" (1999). New compositions were created for and premiered at most
of these events.
The
band has toured New South Wales and Victoria (2000) and has two Compact
Discs of its own: "Recursion" (1999) and the double-CD "Ek!" (2001).
The band is also featured on Jonathan Dimond's "Journeys:
People, Places" and with Topology on "Airwaves:
100 Years of Radio" (More information
under recordings).
"The
outcome is... energizing, exciting, and quite often very beautiful in
a fresh, unsentimental way." John Clare,
Sydney Morning Herald. August 2001
Loops'
extensive repertoire features original compositions by the ensemble
members, and standard-repertoire jazz with a modern 'twist'.
"The European Classical
tradition is at least as influential here as jazz. But then avante-garde
sound sculpture, progressive rock, and Indian Classical music are also
salient ingredients in this fascinating recipe." John Shand, Sydney
Morning Herald. June 2000
