Alister Spence

Pianist, improvisor and composer, Alister Spence has a career spanning more than 30 years, his wide-ranging talents have led him to perform with and compose for some of the world’s most respected artists in contemporary music and improvisation. The Alister Spence Trio with Lloyd Swanton (the Necks) on double bass and Toby Hall (Mike Nock Trio) drums enjoys critical acclaim and has an international reputation. Other projects include Asteroid Ekosystem (with Ed Kuepper—the Saints, Laughing Clowns—on guitar), Kira Kira (with Satoko Fujii, Japan), and Spence/Buck duo (with Tony Buck from the Necks). He has performed, and recorded with internationally recognised improvisers in Japan, Scotland, Sweden and the US; including acclaimed Japanese pianist/composer, Satoko Fujii, Raymond MacDonald (Scotland), Myra Melford (US), Joe Williamson and Christopher Cantillo (Sweden), and Tony Buck (Australia/Germany). Spence has twice received an ARIA Award for Best Australian Jazz Album (with Clarion Fracture Zone, and Wanderlust), and an APRA/AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Jazz (Alister Spence/Myra Melford duo). He was co-leader/composer with the internationally acclaimed group Clarion Fracture Zone for 15 years from 1990 – 2005. ‘I can't think of an album of his [Spences] that's less than excellent’ Andy Hamilton, Jazz Journal ‘Music of a high order, inviting a listener into a distinctive terrain’ Stuart Broomer, Free Jazz Collective