Gemma Farrell’s electronic revolution

Gemma Farrell Quintet will celebrate the release of their new album Electronic at Lyric’s Underground this Saturday, May 4. 

The new release adds to an impressive body of work for bandleader Gemma Farrell, an accomplished jazz saxophonist, bandleader, and composer with nine albums under her belt (including three with her Quintet and four solo).

While Farrell is known for her skills on all four saxes (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) the new album—which comes out this Friday, May 3—is all about jamming on the EWI [pronounced EE-wee].

Gemma discovered this novel electronic wind instrument, which was invented in the ‘80s by Nyle Steiner, while studying her master’s at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in 2010.

Back then, she did not feel confident improvising on it, and it has only been since her recent PhD research at the WA Academy of Performing Arts (where she also lectures in jazz studies) which included learning how to use software synthesisers, that her masterful execution of the instrument really took off.

“My instrument is a NuRAD EWI by Johan Berglund from Sweden,” Gemma said. “Berglund is being credited as bringing the EVI (Electronic Valve Instrument) back to life, as until his resent instrument designs, it was pretty hard to find one. His instruments, and my EWI, are 3D printed.”

Gemma Farrell Quintet started in 2015 and its current iteration includes Perth-based musicians Sam Hadlow on trombone, Dan Garner on guitar, Ryan Daunt on drums and Lucy Browning on bass.

The quintet is Farrell’s main outlet for her original music, and this third album follows on from The View from The Top (2022) and Organised Chaos (2018).

Gemma Farrell Quintet launch their new album Electronic at Lyric’s Underground on Saturday, May 4, 2024. Tickets are on sale now from tickets.oztix.com.au