Contemporary underground jazz at Bellingen Memorial Hall

Published on 13 March 2025

The Bellingen Memorial Hall is delighted to present one of Australia’s most in-demand saxophonists, Matthew Ottignon and his latest quartet, on Sunday 23 March.

Matthew will be performing his latest album Volant, with an exceptional trio of female musicians drawn from the contemporary underground.

John Shand, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald described it thus, “This sax virtuoso will make you believe you can fly! ...Pianist Lauren Tsamouras, bassist Hannah James and drummer Holly Connor are fully alive to Ottignon’s desired balancing of lightness and mass”.

While embodying the spirit of giants such as John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, Volant is undeniably a contemporary quartet, delivering world-class compositions and thrilling improvised dialogue.

The Memorial Hall Venue Coordinator, Phil Nicholas said, “I’ve been listening to this album a lot and it’s just a gem. Matthew’s velvety sax somehow evokes the ways a butcher bird alters it’s tune in unexpected and thrilling ways.”

“This concert is special for two further reasons – firstly, this gig at the newly refurbished Hall, is helping to reignite the enthusiastic jazz audience for which Bellingen is renowned, ahead of the Beyond Jazz Weekender planned for this August 2025.”

“Secondly, we have recently acquired a brand-new Kawai GX7 semi concert grand piano for the Hall, and this will be the first time an audience has the opportunity to hear this amazing instrument being played.”

Doors for this matinee performance open at 3.30pm with drinks and snack available from the bar, ahead of a 4pm kick off. Discounted tickets are available for Bellingen Memorial Hall mailing list subscribers and under 18s are free of charge. Search Bellingen Memorial Hall website for ticket link.