Aurora Lumina
Contemporary Chamber Jazz
With a dollop of world music
With a dollop of world music
Aurora Lumina perform original compositions inspired by contemporary jazz, classical and Middle Eastern musical styles and genres. They have played together for over twenty years including at the Melbourne, Manly and Wangaratta international jazz festivals.
Jenny Game (DCA, MA, B.A.hons).
Composer & Saxophones
“…swaggering tenor saxophone…carefully crafted compositions gives way to raw exoticism...” John Shand, Limelight.
A composer and saxophonist with diverse interests, Jenny consistently surprises audiences with the strength and subtlety of her music. She also composes music for the stage. This year she composed the music for the acclaimed contemporary circus show Dispersion, directed by Zebastian Hunter (Circque du Soleil) and choreographer Meredith Kitchen (Phillipe Genty productions):
“Frankly, Dispersion blew me away. Add to that live, globetrotting music from saxophonist Jenny Game, who also composed the score, and you get an immersive experience that suggests worlds within worlds.” Cameron Woodhead, The Age, June 19, 2019.”
Jenny has received a number of grants including a touring grant with Playing Australia, in 1998 and the recording, manufacture and marketing a CD Jacinta's Song (Arts Victoria, 2002). In 2011, she was invited as an industry expert to judge the National Jazz Bell Awards in Melbourne. Also an academic and educator, Jenny is the Academic Leader at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) and is currently composing a new circus opera.
Available recordings:
In Concert: Live at The Edge, DVD, Contemporary Arts Media, 2006
Jacinta’s Song, CD, Move Records, 2004
Seven Seas, CD, Newmarket Music, 1996
http://www.move.com.au/disc/jenny-game-ensemble-jacintas-song
jennygame.com
https://www.auroralumina.com/home
Additional press quotes:
“This excellently balanced CD (Jacinta’s Song) is another indication of the healthy state of the Melburnian jazz world” John Barns, 3MBS FM Libretto, 2004
“The settings she creates [Jenny Game - Lopata] for her own solos and her colleagues are consistently fresh and varied” Adrian Jackson, Rhythms, 2004
“Here is an art of gentle persuasion... her tenor and soprano playing eloquent....” Stephen Ingham, The Age, 1998.
“…swaggering tenor saxophone…carefully crafted compositions give way to raw exoticism...” John Shand, Limelight 1998.
“Game’s tenor sax has a breathy silkiness, her soprano a rich sensuality.... the release (Seven Seas) could earn the Gamesters some well-deserved recognition in the Melbourne jazz scene.” Leon Gettler, The Age, 1996.
Peter Neville
Vibraphone
Peter Neville is a virtuoso percussionist. As Head of Percussion at the Victorian College of the Arts/Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and the inaugural Head of Percussion at the Australian National Academy of Music he inspires young musicians and all to perform at their best across a range of musical styles. Peter has a particular commitment to new music and chamber music, both of which he fosters in his role as Head of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music’s New Music Studio.
Peter is a founding member, of the internationally renowned ELISION Ensemble which as been inspiring audiences with new music for over 30 years. Numerous works have been composed for his unique set of virtuosic skills including Chris Dench's Driftglass, for percussion and ensemble, and Richard Barrett's Abglanzbeladen/Ausinandergeschrieben.
Peter contributes to other new music organisations, including the Melbourne Composers’ League, Six Degrees Ensemble, Bolt Ensemble, Arcko Symphonic, the Nick Tsiavos ensemble, Chamber Made Opera, Speak Percussion, Syzygy, and BIFEM.
Poul Grage
Kit / Hand Percussion
Poul is a multi-skilled musician appearing in many guises from original contemporary jazz to street-theatre. Performing with Jenny Game-Lopata since 1996, he featured on the Jenny Game Ensemble’s CD Jacinta’s Song (Move). Poul performs with percussion clowns Batacuda, freelances on drums and percussion across many styles and pursues collaborations as performer/composer in dance and theatre.
Poul was a teacher and Music Coordinator at several Victorian secondary colleges for two decades while also being the man behind innumerable Melbourne groups. He can be found behind jazz, soul, Latin, blues & roots bands. You will find him on the streets with roving acts and in the theatre supporting stage artists. He also enlivens Melbourne’s multicultural music world playing Kurdish, Greek and Peruvian music. All this and his own nuanced original music contribute significantly to the sounds of Aurora Lumina.
Michael Currie
Five String Acoustic Bass
After emerging onto the improvisation scene in the 2000's with his ensemble Stir (Andrea Keller/Alain Valodze), Michael left for France and studied with double bass virtuoso Francois Rabbath. He has developed a fluid and lyrical improvisation style influenced by Rabbath, Garcia- Fons and Barre Phillips.
Michael has played with many improvising and folk musicians, including Australia tours with Peggy Van Zalm and Mal Webb. He experiments with alternative tunings to enhance the range of expression of the double bass and has worked with Melbourne luthier Ben Puglisi and Sydney luthier Matthew Tucker to this end. Michael has employed music in his work with aggressive children and adolescents as a psychoanalyst, for which he has won several awards, and written two books published through Melbourne University Press.
Jenny Game (DCA, MA, B.A.hons).
Composer & Saxophones
“…swaggering tenor saxophone…carefully crafted compositions gives way to raw exoticism...” John Shand, Limelight.
A composer and saxophonist with diverse interests, Jenny consistently surprises audiences with the strength and subtlety of her music. She also composes music for the stage. This year she composed the music for the acclaimed contemporary circus show Dispersion, directed by Zebastian Hunter (Circque du Soleil) and choreographer Meredith Kitchen (Phillipe Genty productions):
“Frankly, Dispersion blew me away. Add to that live, globetrotting music from saxophonist Jenny Game, who also composed the score, and you get an immersive experience that suggests worlds within worlds.” Cameron Woodhead, The Age, June 19, 2019.”
Jenny has received a number of grants including a touring grant with Playing Australia, in 1998 and the recording, manufacture and marketing a CD Jacinta's Song (Arts Victoria, 2002). In 2011, she was invited as an industry expert to judge the National Jazz Bell Awards in Melbourne. Also an academic and educator, Jenny is the Academic Leader at the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA) and is currently composing a new circus opera.
Available recordings:
In Concert: Live at The Edge, DVD, Contemporary Arts Media, 2006
Jacinta’s Song, CD, Move Records, 2004
Seven Seas, CD, Newmarket Music, 1996
http://www.move.com.au/disc/jenny-game-ensemble-jacintas-song
jennygame.com
https://www.auroralumina.com/home
Additional press quotes:
“This excellently balanced CD (Jacinta’s Song) is another indication of the healthy state of the Melburnian jazz world” John Barns, 3MBS FM Libretto, 2004
“The settings she creates [Jenny Game - Lopata] for her own solos and her colleagues are consistently fresh and varied” Adrian Jackson, Rhythms, 2004
“Here is an art of gentle persuasion... her tenor and soprano playing eloquent....” Stephen Ingham, The Age, 1998.
“…swaggering tenor saxophone…carefully crafted compositions give way to raw exoticism...” John Shand, Limelight 1998.
“Game’s tenor sax has a breathy silkiness, her soprano a rich sensuality.... the release (Seven Seas) could earn the Gamesters some well-deserved recognition in the Melbourne jazz scene.” Leon Gettler, The Age, 1996.
Peter Neville
Vibraphone
Peter Neville is a virtuoso percussionist. As Head of Percussion at the Victorian College of the Arts/Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and the inaugural Head of Percussion at the Australian National Academy of Music he inspires young musicians and all to perform at their best across a range of musical styles. Peter has a particular commitment to new music and chamber music, both of which he fosters in his role as Head of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music’s New Music Studio.
Peter is a founding member, of the internationally renowned ELISION Ensemble which as been inspiring audiences with new music for over 30 years. Numerous works have been composed for his unique set of virtuosic skills including Chris Dench's Driftglass, for percussion and ensemble, and Richard Barrett's Abglanzbeladen/Ausinandergeschrieben.
Peter contributes to other new music organisations, including the Melbourne Composers’ League, Six Degrees Ensemble, Bolt Ensemble, Arcko Symphonic, the Nick Tsiavos ensemble, Chamber Made Opera, Speak Percussion, Syzygy, and BIFEM.
Poul Grage
Kit / Hand Percussion
Poul is a multi-skilled musician appearing in many guises from original contemporary jazz to street-theatre. Performing with Jenny Game-Lopata since 1996, he featured on the Jenny Game Ensemble’s CD Jacinta’s Song (Move). Poul performs with percussion clowns Batacuda, freelances on drums and percussion across many styles and pursues collaborations as performer/composer in dance and theatre.
Poul was a teacher and Music Coordinator at several Victorian secondary colleges for two decades while also being the man behind innumerable Melbourne groups. He can be found behind jazz, soul, Latin, blues & roots bands. You will find him on the streets with roving acts and in the theatre supporting stage artists. He also enlivens Melbourne’s multicultural music world playing Kurdish, Greek and Peruvian music. All this and his own nuanced original music contribute significantly to the sounds of Aurora Lumina.
Michael Currie
Five String Acoustic Bass
After emerging onto the improvisation scene in the 2000's with his ensemble Stir (Andrea Keller/Alain Valodze), Michael left for France and studied with double bass virtuoso Francois Rabbath. He has developed a fluid and lyrical improvisation style influenced by Rabbath, Garcia- Fons and Barre Phillips.
Michael has played with many improvising and folk musicians, including Australia tours with Peggy Van Zalm and Mal Webb. He experiments with alternative tunings to enhance the range of expression of the double bass and has worked with Melbourne luthier Ben Puglisi and Sydney luthier Matthew Tucker to this end. Michael has employed music in his work with aggressive children and adolescents as a psychoanalyst, for which he has won several awards, and written two books published through Melbourne University Press.