The Others
When three Australian music giants come together to form an unlikely supergroup, a special type of sonic magic results. Described as ‘unclassifiable art’ (Ukaria Centre), The Others sees James Morrison, Paul Grabowsky and Kram compose in real time to create ‘other-worldly jazz improvisation’ (The Advertiser).
The Others is an improvisational ensemble built on three principles. Firstly, the instrumental talents of the three musicians. Secondly, the practice of deep, mutual listening. The third — and most important — factor is trust. “Out of that triangle, the music emerges,” Paul Grabowksy explains.
Featuring trumpeter James Morrison, composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky and Spiderbait’s Kram on drums, this ultimate union of top musicians has wowed audiences at jazz festivals and live music venues.
“The Others .. brings together idiosyncratic personalities, massive musical experience and evident respect for each other, to create memorable music”
- The Advertiser | Paul Grabowksy explains.
“There’s a great sense of equality in the group..I always think of that when we’re playing together. I’ve been in a trio for so many years and Spiderbait is a similar energy; the great thing about trios is that there’s all these different connections.”
- Kram
“Jazz is one of those art forms that attracts what I call ‘the trainspotters’, the people who know every recording and every take on every recording. They exchange information on a very micro-level. That is attached to, I think, a very specific way of looking at what jazz is. These people have got a very fixed view, sometimes, about that. I’ve never really subscribed to that idea.. I started playing jazz as a more-or-less conventional jazz pianist, attempting to convey that tradition. I came to understand over the years that jazz is, for me at least, a word that describes a process. The process is about improvising and it’s about drawing on different traditions, whatever the traditions are, that are authentic to your method of expression. A project like The Others enables three of us to come from our respective places. Even within the jazz world, James and I represent quite different points of view and styles. James is generally known for being what most people would regard as ‘the mainstream’. A lot of what I do sits quite outside that. Under this umbrella of jazz, we’re able to bring what we do with a will to making music together as a band.”
Paul Grabowksy
